Our Team

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 recently graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health with an MPH 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, FCN
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 recently retired from a greater than 40 year career of providing either direct care or administration focused in infant and adult critical care and public health. Cheryl is the FCN at Grace University Lutheran Church and a Stepping On Leader.

Alisa Tomette, PhD, MS, BA
Executive Assistant
Alisa earned a PhD in Public Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University. She has worked as adjunct faculty teaching Social Science Research Methods and Mental Health in the Context of Public Health. She has served on, and managed, academic research teams in colleges of Public Health and Medicine. Her research experience and interests include parental caregiving stress; biopsychosocial models of stress appraisal and coping; and mental health, health disparities, and familial stress among Sexual and Gender Minorities.

Sondra Weinzierl, RN, BA, MA, FCN
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.