NIGC appoints Jeannie Hovland and Sharon Avery as Associate Commissioners

The National Indian Gaming Commission has announced the reappointment of Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland and the appointment of NIGC Associate General Counsel Sharon M. Avery as Associate Commissioners, effective May 6, 2024.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland had proposed their appointments on March 25, pending public comment. This is Vice Chair Hovland’s second three-year appointed term as an agency Associate Commissioner and Avery’s first appointment. Each is appointed for a three-year term.

“I am truly honored to be appointed to serve on the Commission for a second term. I look forward to collaboration between the Agency and tribal nations, as we continue our important work to meet the ever-changing landscape of the tribal gaming industry,” said Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland.

Hovland is an enrolled member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. She has been with the NIGC since 2021, where she currently serves as Vice Chair.

Prior to joining the NIGC, she served as Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Affairs for the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

Hovland worked for nearly 13 years within the office of South Dakota Senator John Thune where she assisted with important legislation such as the Tribal Law and Order Act and the Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008.

“It is with great privilege that I accept this appointment as an Associate Commissioner with the NIGC. I am excited to be a part of the continued work between the agency and tribes within the framework of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to ensure the continued integrity of Indian gaming,” said Avery.

Avery is an enrolled member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. She has been with the NIGC for over four years serving as an Associate General Counsel in the NIGC Office of General Counsel.

Before joining the NIGC, Avery served for more than 10 years in the Legal Department for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. Most recently, she served as General Counsel for Tribal Operations for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.