Biography

Katrina F. Shealy is USC Brain Health’s Community Liaison.

As such, she works to create cross-sector collaborations with government and community organizations.

Elected to represent South Carolina District 23 in November 2012, Shealy served as a South Carolina State Senator for 12 years.

While in the Senate, she led efforts to eliminate the state income tax. For this effort, she received the South Carolina Friend of the Taxpayer Award in 2013. She also led efforts to reform the South Carolina’s Department of Social Services to protect vulnerable children. Shealy was recognized for this as Legislator of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers in 2015. 

Along with fellow legislators, Shealy fought to strengthen penalties for people convicted of domestic violence crimes. Shealy’s efforts paid off with the passage of legislation enforcing stronger penalties for criminal domestic violence. For her efforts, Shealy was recognized as the 2015 Legislator of the Year by the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse.

As a passionate advocate for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Shealy has been an activist for more than 10 years – since her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Upon his diagnosis, Shealy immersed herself in learning about cognitive health and quickly saw the gaps in resources, education and support available to families. She worked closely with doctors and researchers, advocated for funding and tackling the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s head-on.

An insurance executive, Shealy has been in the industry for more than 40 years. She is a licensed Life, Accident and Health Insurance Agent and has held a Property and Casualty Insurance License since 1976 and a South Carolina Brokers License since 1993. Shealy works as an insurance consultant for Keenan Suggs in Columbia, helping other job-creating individuals and businesses daily. 

Shealy and her husband Jimmy reside in Lexington. They have three daughters and five grandsons. The Shealys are active members of St. James Lutheran Church in Red Bank, where Shealy previously served on the church council.