Cathryn ("Cathy") Hankla (born March 20, 1958) is an American poet, novelist, essayist and author of short stories.

Two volumes of Hankla's poetry have been finalists in the Library of Virginia Awards (Texas School Book Depository: Prose Poems (2001), and Great Bear (2017)).

Hankla’s geometric abstract paintings were included in Studio Visit (2009) and have been selected for national juried shows.

Her paintings hang in private and corporate collections in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

Hankla attended Pulaski County High School in Dublin, Virginia, where she was involved with drama, band, filmmaking, and photography.