Abby Jessen, MPH
Executive Director
Abby has been with the Network since 2016, first serving as the Administrative Assistant, then as the Interim Executive Director in November, 2019. She currently serves as the Executive Director. She earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health with emphasis in Community Health Promotion. Prior to joining the FCNN team, she worked at the Iowa City Senior Center; coordinated mentoring programs for citizens returning to the community after incarceration; and taught English in France to elementary and middle school students.
Cheryl Lanigan, MA, BSN, PHN, Faith Community Nurse
Program Director
Cheryl received her BSN from the University of Minnesota and MA (Health and Human Services) from Saint Mary’s University in Winona, MN. She is retired from a greater than 40-year career of providing direct care or administration focused in infant and adult critical care and public health. Cheryl serves as the Faith Community Nurse at Grace University Lutheran Church and is a Stepping On Master Trainer, a Master Trainer for the Living Well suite of programs, and a Leader for Matter of Balance and Powerful Tools for Caregivers.
Jessica Drecktrah, MHA, MN, RN, Faith Community Nurse
Chief Nursing Officer
Several years ago, Jess served a nursing leadership role as the Director for Evidence Based Programs. Recently, Jess served as Vice President, Life Enrichment for Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS). At PHS, Jess provided service to 8,000+ senior housing residents with leadership responsibility for the functions of life enrichment, volunteerism, fitness, wellness coordination, wellness nursing and dementia care. Jess has held leadership positions at Target, the YMCA, Allina Health, Ecumen and the University of Minnesota.
Jessica graduated from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Services Administration and English Literature. She obtained her Master of Healthcare Administration (including Licensed Nursing Home Administrator [LNHA] Certificate) and Master of Nursing degrees from the University Of Minnesota. Over the past two decades, Jess has championed innovative healthcare initiatives within academia, provider settings, fitness and retail.
Her areas of expertise include pioneering strategy, startups, and program development.
Sondra Weinzierl, RN, BA, MA, Faith Community Nurse
Chair, Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course
Sondra received her Bachelor in Nursing degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and her Masters of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in Adult Education and Human Resource Development with a Certificate in Training. Her nursing experience includes Medical-Surgical, Neurology, Diabetes Education and Health Promotion and Education. Sondra was the owner of Weinzierl Education Associates for over 25 years and provided workshops, team facilitation, strategic planning and health promotion consultation to a wide variety of organizations in government, health care, education and industry. She has served as an FCN in faith communities in Boston, MA and in Minnesota over the past 11 years. She received her board certification in Faith Community Nursing in 2018.
