Tara Downes

Adjunct Professor (SPP) and Deputy State Comptroller, CT Office of the State Comptroller (MPA 2020)

CT Office of the State Comptroller

Tara Downes comes to the University of Connecticut’s MPA Fellows Program with a 25-year career in state policy and communications. Tara began her career as a print news reporter in Connecticut, covering government issues and breaking news throughout the state. Tara made the shift to state government as policy and communications advisor to the state attorney general where she managed policy and media relations involving litigation on the national financial crisis, illegal pharmaceutical marketing, and environmental protection. Tara now serves as Deputy State Comptroller in the Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller.  Prior to this position, she was Assistant State Comptroller, overseeing agency operations, and Director of Communications to the State Comptroller where she oversaw communications involving health care policy, pension payment reform and the State’s financial and economic outlook. Tara received her B.A. in Print Journalism from Hofstra University.