John Downen advises the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute on economic and public policy research methodology, specializing in economic and fiscal impact analysis. Downen is a senior analyst with Camoin Associates, a national economic development consultancy. Prior to his current role, he served as Deputy Director of Economic and Public Policy Research at the Gardner Institute, managing a team of analysts researching the Utah economy and public policy issues that impact the state.

Downen previously worked as a senior research analyst at the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, which merged into the Gardner Institute. He also held a wide variety of positions in California, Louisiana, and Montana, including technical editor for a large engineering firm, editorial assistant and copy editor for various computer magazines, freelance editor, and research associate and publications and program coordinator for a small nonprofit organization. Downen holds a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in physics from Georgetown University and a master’s in economics from Tulane University, as well as a certificate in applied GIS from the University of Utah.