Bio
Elise Blasingame (Osage/๐๐ฐ๐๐ฐ๐๐ท) is a policy and research professional with over a decade of experience in public service. Her work focuses on representation, Native American politics, and American political institutions. Dr. Blasingame received her PhD in American Politics from the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia. Her research has been published in the American Political Science Review, Political Research Quarterly, Political Science Research & Methods, and the American Journal of Public Health. She is currently the Scholar in Residence at Advance Native Political Leadership.
Prior to academia, Dr. Blasingame held leadership roles at several non-profit organizations. She served as Executive Director of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia from 2015 to 2020, leading a team dedicated to improving maternal and infant health through advocacy, education, research, and direct service delivery. Earlier in her career, she worked with Georgia Watch and The Carter Centerโs Mental Health Program and Global Access to Information Initiative, supporting projects in West Africa.
Dr. Blasingame also holds an MSW from the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
She was recognized as one of Georgia Trendโs โ40 Under 40โ in 2020 and is an alum of MIT SOLVE Indigenous Communities Fellowship, the Eloise Cobell Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, New Leaders Council Atlanta, LEAD Atlanta, the Zell Miller Leadership Institute, and the Indigenous Leadership Academy at Arizona State University. From 2017 to 2020, she served as the District 3 At-Large Appointee to the City of Atlanta Commission on Women. In 2022, she was selected as a Udall Foundation Native American Congressional Fellow, where she served in the Office of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland.
Dr. Blasingame lives in Atlanta, where she serves as Parks Chair for her community and enjoys life with her husband, two dogs (Taco Bell and Mochi), and their backyard flock of chickens.
Photo Credit: Amber Murphy Raines