The QA Commons is mindful of the dramatic and transformational impact COVID-19 is having on all institutions of higher education. As an organization, we are adapting our services to support preparing graduates for the workplace that is now changing more precipitously than ever.
QA Commons’ mission is to ensure today’s learners are prepared for the changing dynamics of the workforce and economy.
A national nonprofit dedicated to bridging the gap between education and employment, the organization is committed to equity and empowering underserved populations. QA Commons develops solutions that help students understand workplace expectations, develop the essential skills to thrive in their jobs, and navigate a career path that leads to social and economic mobility.
Services include program certification, student employability badging, professional development, internship preparation, evaluation, and consulting.
Employers overwhelmingly believe employability skills (also known as “soft skills”) are as important as technical or “hard” skills. At the same time, the large majority of employers report difficulty hiring workers with the soft skills they need. Advances in technology are only accelerating the demand for skills such as communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork. No longer do we need to train workers to execute rote activities. However, education and training programs often focus on academic knowledge and technical skills. To transcend socio-economic barriers and access opportunities in the workforce of the future, learners and workers must have a clear understanding of workplace opportunities and expectations and be intentionally guided in their development of Essential Employability Qualities.
Quality Assurance (QA) Commons was founded in 2016 with a grant from the Lumina Foundation and support from the National Center for Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). We ensure all learners are prepared for the changing dynamics of the workforce and economy through a range of services – from helping embed Essential Employability Qualities (EEQs) into courses and curriculum – to training instructors and staff on employability – to consulting on existing work-readiness initiatives.
In its tenure, QA Commons has engaged over 40 institutions, evaluated over 100 programs, and impacted over 85,000 students.
Convened national leaders (funded by a USA Funds—now Strada—grant). Unanimously decide that new models focusing on career readiness are vital.
Research begins on bridging the gap between Higher Ed and the workplace. Awarded a Lumina Foundation grant.
Successfully conclude Pilot Program. Awarded Lumina Foundation continuation grant. Launch Kentucky EEQ Certification Initiative.
Launched a Faculty Employability Fellows program, enabling faculty to learn first-hand about local workforce needs, employer concerns, and the views of the role higher education needs to play.
Partnered with the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) in a program-level Employability self-assessment to contribute to the system's updating of the program review process.
Partnered with the Distance Education Accrediting Commission to offer EEQ Certification to DEAC-accredited schools. Engaged in the evaluation of the #Prepared4PA pilot programs in Pennsylvania.
Student Employability Badging Offered to EEQ Certified programs through the Credly platform. Providing employability curriculum and professional development to the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Received a 3-year grant from Ascendium Education Group. Engaged in Noncredit Quality Assurance work.
The Board of Directors oversees the organization, with a focus on mission, strategy and goals.
Board Chair and Treasurer
Board Chair and Treasurer
Jeffery has more than 25 years of experience of executive and board leadership in financial, industrial, commercial real estate and education institutions across the country. He is a Senior Operating Partner at both Avathon Capital and Sterling Partners, where he capitalizes his vision for education excellence with a wide range of strategic investments and leadership roles.
Jeffery is chairman of the board of Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology, Alliant International University and Edcura LLC. He also serves on the boards of Calumet College of St. Joseph, University of Dubuque, UMass Global, and ReUp Education, among others. He was the chief architect and visionary for TCS Education’s groundbreaking nonprofit system, a consortium that includes The Chicago School, Saybrook University, The Colleges of Law and others.
Jeffery has been a board member of The QA Commons since 2016.
Jeffery holds a BS in Economics and Management and an MBA in Finance from Purdue University. He also holds certificates from Kent College of Law, Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Yale School of Management Investment.
Sonny is a leading agricultural scientist and the President of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which oversees regional accreditation for 162 higher education institutions. In 2012, he was appointed by President Obama to be Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, where he served for six years.
Prior to his role in the federal government, Sonny was a member of the faculty and leadership teams of several universities. At institutions including Oregon State University, Purdue University, Kansas State University and Mississippi State University, he rose through the ranks from assistant professor to distinguished professor, department head and dean.
Sonny has been a board member of The QA Commons since 2024.
Sonny holds a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture and Masters of Science in Agriculture (Entomology) from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore. He received his Ph.D. in Entomology from Rutgers University and also completed the Management Development Program at Harvard University.
Marcela has over 20 years of experience as a research scientist and is currently the Director of Research and Center of Excellence at Cabrillo Community College. Previously, she was a Research and Planning Analyst at Irvine Valley College. Her research focuses on K-12 and community college educational policies that affect learning and success opportunities among low-income, first-generation, and minoritized students.
Prior to her current role, she performed postdoctoral research as the Director of Research Practice Partnerships at the University of California-Irvine, connecting faculty with school district administrators to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged students.
Marcela has been a board member of The QA Commons since 2024.
Marcela holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a Master’s in Social Research Methodology from UCLA. At UC-Irvine, she completed both a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Social Context.
Kendra has over 25 years of experience in consumer electronics and financial services and is currently Director, Head of Payments for General Motors. Previously, she was Director, Head of Payments and Risk Operations for Rocket Lawyer and has held leadership roles at such Fortune 500 companies as Walmart, Apple and Visa.
Kendra has been a board member of The QA Commons since 2024.
Kendra holds a Bachelor’s in Economics and a Master’s in Sociology, Organization Behavior, both from Stanford University. She also earned an MBA from London School of Economics.
Board Secretary
Board Secretary
Jeff has more than 30 years of experience in business development and is currently VP, Fintech Research for Fidelity Investments. Prior to Fidelity, he was Head of Partnerships for the venture-backed financial care platform Brightside. For eight years he was at Evestnet Yodlee, where he ascended to Vice President of Strategic Partnerships.
In addition to being a member of the board of the QA Commons, Jeff was also a board member of Compass Family Services in San Francisco. Jeff has been a board member of The QA Commons since 2024.
Jeff holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Stanford University and a Master’s in Religious Studies from Harvard University.
Bob is the President of Education & Workforce Policy, LLC, a policy consulting firm whose singular focus is the advancement of education, training, and workforce policy.
He has served as the President and CEO of the National Alliance of Business, the Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Reagan and again under President Bush, senior positions in two major U.S. corporations, and as a Chief of Staff to two members of the US House of Representatives. Bob was awarded the Presidential Distinguished Executive Award by President Reagan.
In addition to being a member of the board of the QA Commons, Bob is on the board of Centerpoint Education Solutions and is a Commissioner on the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges(AACJC). Bob has been a board member of The QA Commons since 2016.
Bob is a graduate of University of the Redlands and served as an officer in the United States Air Force.
QA Commons is led by one full-time Executive Director and a team of part-time consultants with domain expertise.
Executive Director
Michelle has led all Employability programs at QA Commons since 2019, working with colleges, universities, workforce development boards, K-12 schools, and carceral institutions around the country.
Before joining QA Commons, Michelle served as Director of Organizational Strategy at the RP Group, a research-based organization focused on student success and equity in the California Community Colleges. As a consultant, she has authored a Labor Market and Career Pathways report for a community college in Oregon and served as a qualitative researcher on a Talent Pathways Initiative report for a Workforce Development Board in Virginia. Prior to her work in the field of higher education, Michelle held corporate roles at Atlas Capital Advisors, Merrill Lynch, and Oracle Corporation. She has served on the boards of numerous education-focused non-profit organizations.
Michelle holds a BS in Development Sociology from Cornell University and an MA in Demography from UC Berkeley. She also earned a Higher Education Teaching certificate from the Harvard BOK Center for Teaching and Learning and completed Design Futures Training at the Institute for the Future.
Contact: michelle@theqacommons.org
Career Services and Employer Engagement Specialist
As the Founding Director of Postsecondary Partnerships at OneGoal-New York, Craig led a team in creating a college access and retention strategy and implementation plan, building partnerships with higher education leaders to ensure student success on campus.
Through the Research Foundation of CUNY, Craig launched a grant-funded paid internship program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He built partnerships with employers and created an internship preparation program, developing curriculum and leading workshops for students and faculty, as well as 1-1 counseling.
Craig also spent six years at Teach For America-New York, developing engagement opportunities and leading communications for over 5,000 alumni in New York City. His consulting clients include ISEF and The University of Florida.
Craig holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as an MA in Drama and a BA in History and English Literature, both from Washington University in St. Louis.
Future of Work and Higher Education Specialist
Chris Mayer, Ph.D., is Head of the Department of English & Philosophy at the United States Military Academy (West Point). He previously served as West Point’s Associate Dean for Strategy and Initiatives where his responsibilities included strategic planning, curriculum development, assessment, and accreditation. He focuses his work on delivering and continually improving a top-ranked undergraduate experience that prepares West Point graduates to be Army officers and develops them into leaders of character.
Chris has served as a Teagle Assessment Scholar at the Center of Inquiry at Wabash College and as an Association of Professional Futurists Emerging Fellow. He is an evaluator and committee member for a regional accreditor and a board member for a school of professional studies and an education-focused non-profit organization.
Chris holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in philosophy from Virginia Tech, an M.P.A. in public administration from Murray State University, and a B.S. in American Politics from West Point. Chris’ work as a consultant reflect his views and not the views of the United States Military Academy, the United States Army, or the Department of Defense.
Employer Partnerships and Reentry Employment Specialist
Wayne Boatwright is a seasoned business and legal professional with over 20 years of experience in navigating complex processes, relationships, and information management. He currently offers consulting services, focusing on legal research and writing, and contributes to various advocacy projects. His journey is unique, having transitioned from a legal career advising multinational corporations in Asia and managing Accenture’s global legal structure to becoming an advocate for criminal justice reform after serving six years at San Quentin for gross negligent vehicular manslaughter. Wayne’s role as the managing editor of the San Quentin News profoundly shaped his views on the criminal justice system, fueling his advocacy for reentry, addiction recovery, and parenting through adversity.
Wayne holds a J.D. from Cornell Law School and a B.A. in Economics from Brigham Young University. Wayne’s education and professional experiences provide him with a broad understanding of the legal system and its impact on individuals and communities.
Contact: wayne@theqacommons.org
Assessment and Accreditation Specialist
Jennifer Wies, Ph.D., is Associate Provost and Professor of Anthropology at Eastern Kentucky University. Previously, she served as Director of Assessment and Accreditation at Ball State University, where she was Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology.
Jennifer is dedicated to facilitating continuous improvement of learning environment activities across the University and is passionate about teaching anthropology along the way. She has successfully supported campus communities in developing and maintaining student-centered, equity-focused, and transformative practices to assure learning at the course, program, and organizational levels.
A trained peer reviewer for multiple federal agencies and the Higher Learning Commission, Jennifer is the 2019 recipient of the American Anthropological Association Gender Equity Award.
Jennifer earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Kentucky.
Senior Researcher
Diane Rodriguez-Kiino, Ph.D., is the department chair of educational leadership at California Lutheran University, where she has taught in the Graduate School of Education since 2010. To date, she has assumed the role of lead evaluator or senior researcher for a dozen complex multi-year grants – privately and federally funded – that center on supporting underrepresented P-20 students.
In 2014–15, she taught at the University of Tokyo and Tsuda College as a Fulbright Scholar in Japan. Upon return to the United States, she served on the Fulbright East Asia Peer Review committee, by invitation of the United States Department of State and the Institute for International Education. Diane has numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and technical reports in higher education.
Diane holds an M.Ed. and a Ph.D. from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University. She was a Leadership Fellow with the National Community College Hispanic Council (2012-13).
Contact: diane@theqacommons.org
Strategic Advisor and Project Lead
Mason brings 25 years of experience in employment policy, workforce development initiatives, postsecondary education and training, and entrepreneurship, and has the rare experience of having worked at both the federal and state/local levels in both workforce development and postsecondary education. He understands the strengths of, and challenges faced by, workforce agencies, community colleges and universities, federal agencies, and community organizations. He particularly enjoys implementing new initiatives and program reforms, as well as improving service delivery and opportunities for people to be upwardly mobile. Mason has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the US Department of Labor, Legislative and Marketing Director for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, Public Affairs Director for the Utah Department of Workforce Service, and Vice President at Salt Lake Community College.
Mason earned an MPA (Public Administration) and a BA in Political Science from Brigham Young University.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Specialist
Abby is an analytical, results-oriented strategic thinker with multifaceted experience designing and conducting evaluations assessing program effectiveness and scalability. She possesses content knowledge and expertise in workforce development policy and programming, higher education innovation, and various health policy and public health practice aspects. Abby has successfully guided organizations of different sizes and capacities to capture data necessary to understand impact and demonstrate progress more effectively and has developed creative utilization-focused program evaluation methodologies with a laser focus on providing useful results to clients for real-time program improvement. Her catalog of clients includes the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Centerstone Research Institute, the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers Coalition, the Indiana University School of Nursing, and numerous community and technical colleges and Workforce Development Boards across the nation.
Abby earned an MPA in Health Policy Analysis from Indiana University and a BA from DePauw University.
Data Analyst
Catherine Parker is a Senior Human Resource Data Analyst at California State University Office of the Chancellor. Catherine possesses strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, a sharp eye for detail, and is proficient in survey design and administration, SPSS, and presentation of research skills.
Before her work at CSU, Catherine spent 14 years as a Data Analyst at College of the Canyons in Southern California. Additionally, she spent 17 years as a part-time community college psychology instructor s and two years as a Data Analysis Subject Matter Expert at Calbright College, an online, public community college in California designed to provide flexible, accessible, and career-focused education to working adults. She is a published researcher in the field of trauma.
Catherine earned an M.A. in Experimental Psychology and a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Northridge after initially earning an AA and transferring. She is committed to student success and helping students overcome barriers in their educational and career pathways.
Writing and Research Associate
Currently a graduate student, Chloe brings strong research, writing, and observational skills to QA Commons. She writes the “Young in Napa” column for the Napa Valley Register, among other publications.
After earning her undergraduate degree, Chloe spent time in retail positions at Lululemon Athletica and J. Crew Factory where she gained insights into the dynamics of the corporate workplace. In addition to getting a firsthand look at corporate policies and management practices, she honed her learned sales strategies as well as customer service, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Chloe is the President of the Silicon Valley Ostomy Support Group and a member of the Education and Young Adult Outreach Committees for the United Ostomy Association of America (UOAA), a non profit for which she has volunteered for the past ten years.
Chloe earned a BA in English from UC Berkeley after attaining three AAs from Contra Costa College – in English, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Arts & Humanities. She is currently working towards her Master’s in English Language and Literature at San Francisco State University.
Contact: chloe@theqacommons.org
Research Associate
Paul brings a unique blend of academic achievement and lived experience to his role as a Research Associate at QA Commons. After a pivotal moment of self-reflection during his time in prison, Boyd committed himself to personal transformation and education. Through the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJ-STEP) initiative, he earned his associate degree while incarcerated, gaining a new vision for his future.
Upon his release, Boyd continued his academic journey, enrolling at Rutgers University–Camden, where he is now a senior majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Religion. His exceptional dedication to public service and education earned him the prestigious 2024 Harry S. Truman Scholarship, marking him as the first-ever Rutgers–Camden student to receive the honor. Boyd is also one of the few formerly incarcerated individuals to be recognized by the scholarship program since its inception in 1975.
With plans to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy, Boyd’s personal and professional trajectory exemplifies resilience and the power of education in reshaping lives. He was a participant in QA Commons’ inaugural Success Coaching training cohort (in partnership with the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network and the Missouri Department of Corrections) and is now contributing to exploration of policy reforms and employability, bringing a deep understanding of the challenges individuals face as they transition back into society and the workforce.
Paul holds an AA in Liberal Arts from Raritan Valley Community College.
Read about the programs that have been through the EEQ Certification process.
SU Art, English, and Philosophy Programs Earn Essential Employability Qualities Certification
Salisbury University
September 17, 2024
Success Coaching Program to Support Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
Yahoo! Finance
July 23, 2024
Health and Physical Education program receives highest score for Essential Employment Qualities certification
Murray State University
May 22, 2024
Teach Your Children/Students Well
Inside Higher Education
March 12, 2024
Moving Beyond the Dependence on College Degrees
Forbes
November 11, 2022
Judging Institutions Based on Employment Outcomes
Inside Higher Ed
March 2, 2022
Measuring Job Market Success
Open Campus
January 27, 2022
A troubling lack of skills in literacy and numeracy
Open Campus
June 10, 2021
How Colleges Can Increase Equity Through Employability Standards
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
February 1, 2021
New benchmarking tool for higher ed seeks to address workplace soft skills gap
Chief Learning Officer
October 15, 2020
Student’s own experience helped launch KCTCS training program
ABC 36 WTVQ Lexington
October 1, 2020
UK Equine Undergrad Program Earns Employability Certification
US Ag Net
June 22, 2020
Grant-Funded Study Helps Prepare Connecticut’s 12 Community College for Consolidation
Connecticut Examiner
June 17, 2020
Kentucky Campuses Lead the Charge on Employability
Northern Kentucky Tribune
June 3, 2020
Schools Offer Certification for Employability Skills
US News & World Report
November 5, 2019
Do Your Academic Programs Actually Develop ‘Employability’? There’s an Assessment for That
Chronicle of Higher Education
April 16, 2019
CPE Launches Employability Initiative to Prepare Graduates for Workplace Success
Kentucky Business & Economic News
November 16, 2018
Group Attempts New Twist on Accreditation
Inside Higher Education
October 9, 2017
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