Dr. Cassandra "Cassie" Godzik is the current Director of Nursing Education Initiatives at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. She studied at the University of Vermont, Regis College, and the University of Massachusetts Medical school, where she earned her MS and PhD. She has practiced as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in the inpatient, outpatient, and residential program settings for older adult patients. Her research focuses on nursing education of undergraduate and graduate students and workforce health. She has been teaching for many years in graduate nursing programs, including leadership roles as a program director and Associate Dean.