Washburn joins Center for Indian Country Development as policy fellow

The Center for Indian Country Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis announced the appointment of Kevin Washburn as a CICD policy/legal fellow. Washburn will work alongside CICD staff to provide perspectives and insights on policy issues affecting Indian Country economies.

"CICD, as an organization focused on tribal economic prosperity, often works at the intersection of law and policy in Indian Country," said Director Casey Lozar (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes). "Kevin's work as both a thought leader and public servant will help CICD continue to grow as a resource to tribal nations."

Kevin Washburn (Chickasaw Nation) is the current N. William Hines dean and professor of law at the University of Iowa-College of Law. Prior to his current role, he has served as dean and regents professor at the University of New Mexico Law School and as the assistant secretary of Indian affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior from October 2012 through December 2015. A nationally recognized expert in federal Indian law, Washburn has taught at Harvard and held faculty positions at the University of Minnesota and the University of Arizona.

"I am excited by the opportunity to partner with the Center for Indian Country Development," said Washburn. "Their work to provide important research and policy on tribal economic development is of critical importance to tribal nations and Indian Country as a whole."

Founded in 2015, CICD has advanced research and policy in Indian Country on access to capital and credit, public financing and taxation, infrastructure, and housing and homeownership, among other economic priorities. Utilizing the Center's research expertise and efforts to partner with tribal communities, CICD works to inform policymakers to strengthen the long-term prosperity and sovereignty of tribal economies.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks that, with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the Federal Reserve System, the nation's central bank. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is responsible for the Ninth Federal Reserve District, which includes Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis participates in setting national monetary policy, supervises numerous banking organizations, and provides a variety of payments services to financial institutions and the U.S. government.