Institution Welcomes New Nursing Faculty
Alaska Pacific University is delighted to welcome three talented nursing professionals with experience in Alaska Tribal and public health systems to the faculty. Dr. Jessie Downes, Katie Baraki, and Laura Hudson have worked in all aspects of the nursing field, including clinical practice, nursing education, research, health systems leadership, and partnership development. Expanding the nursing faculty strengthens APU’s new and culturally relevant program offerings in Nursing (RN to BSN) and Community Health (Certificate and A.A.S.) and further enhances the Health Services Administration concentration in the MBA program.
APU’s leadership foresees tremendous opportunities for students pursuing careers in healthcare. “We are very excited to watch these high-quality education and health professionals create synergies with our Tribal Health partners to address Alaska’s greatest needs in the healthcare sector. Our goal is to create educational pathways for students to advance their careers and continue to serve their communities,” said Provost Hilton Hallock, PhD.
APU offers a variety of scholarship and financial aid programs for students. To learn more, visit the scholarships page.
Dr. Jessie Downes joins APU as the Assistant Professor of Nursing and Director of the Nursing Programs. She is a registered nurse, and her graduate studies in nursing focused on healthcare systems leadership. Jessie brings clinical, management, and professional education/training experience in both public and Alaska Tribal health systems to APU. Most recently, she was the Clinical Services Supervisor for the Department of Health and Human Services of the Municipality of Anchorage. She has also served as Manager of Education, Development and Training at ANTHC and Chief Nursing Officer at Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital in Utqiagvik.
Katie Baraki, RN, MS is APU’s Visiting Assistant Professor of Nursing and Community Health. She previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Utah, where she received fellowships and awards for excellence in teaching, nursing leadership, and transforming clinical instruction. Most recently, she served as a Clinical Nurse Consultant at ANTHC, creating and coordinating the ANMC New Nurse Residency Program, developing other educational programs, mentoring nursing staff, and assessing clinical procedures and facilities.
Laura Hudson, BSN, MBA serves as Assistant Professor of Health Services Administration. Laura has taught a in APU’s MBA program for several years, and last year, in addition to assisting with the development of the RN-to-BSN program, she began working on the self-study process for nursing program accreditation. Prior to joining APU, Laura was the Clinical Education Manager at ANTHC, and she continues as an epidemiology research nurse there. She also serves as Vice Chair and Commissioner for the Anchorage Health and Human Services Commission. In her new role, Laura will teach courses in health services administration and nursing, and she will coordinate clinical placements and other partnerships for APU’s Nursing programs.
To learn more about academic programs at Alaska Pacific University, visit here or call (907) 564-8248.
