Catherine Andrea Giessel MS, RN, APRN-BC, FAANP
Catherine Giessel, a lifelong Alaskan, earned her nursing bachelor's
degree from the University of Michigan and master's degree from the University
of Alaska, Anchorage.
Ms. Giessel's knowledge of healthcare issues has effectively combined with her lifelong interest in public policy. She monitored legislation in Alaska related to healthcare, educating, testifying and lobbying on advance practice issues and healthcare legislation, serving for 6 years as the legislative liaison for the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association. She chaired the 2006 Transition Team for Alaska DHSS under newly-elected Governor Sarah Palin, and was a member of the 2007 Alaska Healthcare Strategies Planning Council.
Cathy served as chair of the Alaska State Board of Nursing, and receie 2010 Excellence in Leadership award from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. She served on the Board of Directors of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and on the Advanced Practice committee.
Cathy served as the AANP Alaska state representative from 2003-2009.
In
2010 Cathy was elected to the Alaska State Senate, where she continued to
serve until 2021. During this time she was elected Senate President. She was reelected in 2022 and serves as the Senate Majority Leader for the Bipartisan Majority Caucus.
Cathy is very active in community health organizations, volunteering for the Alaska Health Fairs, Beacon Hill Safe Families for Children, and Alaska Behavioral Health board of directors. 