Consultants at Quality Measures represent a wide-range of talents and experiences in program evaluation, assessment strategies, accreditation visits, strategic planning and statistical analysis. Each consultant is dedicated to continuous development as experts in their field and demonstrates uncompromising quality and integrity of work provided to our clients.
Dr. Gwen Lee-Thomas
CEO of Quality Measures LLC
Dr. Gwen Lee-Thomas is the CEO of Quality Measures, LLC—a Virginia-based consulting firm specializing in program and project evaluation, team building, and strengthening organizational health through accountability with senior leadership teams. She has been an external consultant and success strategist for nearly 30 years serving businesses, government organizations, community-based organizations, colleges and universities across the nation. In addition to these experiences, Gwen has conducted over 130 grant-funded education and research-based evaluations valued at over $150M, collectively throughout the United States. These evaluations have included various STEM-H programs funded by NSF, U.S. Dept of Education, Dept. of Energy, DOD, HRSA, and DOJ.
Executive leadership capacities have included state board chair of the Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC), Executive Assistant to two college/university presidents, and commissioner on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE). During her tenure as state board chair of IMHC, Gwen worked collaboratively with her board, senior administrators, and legislative caucuses in navigating state budget cuts, developing a revenue-generating subsidiary, designing, and implementing an affiliation/de-affiliation agreement with 19 local coalitions, and developing a 5-Year strategic plan. As the Executive Assistant to the President of RHIT, Gwen worked closely with the president in the restructuring of the organization’s administrative team—including retirements, reassignments, and promotions, provided the logistical work for the 5-Year strategic plan with the College’s 52-member board of directors, and supported the College in reducing their budget by 6% across all functional areas.
With regards to accreditation and university-wide assessment plans, Gwen has led and supported accreditation reaffirmations and has created digital data portfolios to support the institutional research process. She led university-wide programs to develop applications for the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge Award – a process requiring rigorous documentation of student outcomes and strategies for measuring data, using data for continuous improvement, and developing metrics to inform standards and outcomes.
Other experiences include community relations board for the U.S. Penitentiary of Federal Bureau of Prisons, the United Way Grants Sub-Committee, and Academic Business Council of the Greater Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce in Indiana.
Gwen received her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1984, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1996, and a PhD in Education Administration in 1999, both from Indiana State University.
Mary J. Combs, M.S.
Senior Evaluator
Mary J. Combs is a seasoned evaluator with over 15 years of experience advancing equity and effectiveness across education, health, and workforce development sectors. Currently serving as a Senior Evaluator with Quality Measures LLC, she leads projects from inception to close-out, applying evidence-based methodologies and culturally responsive evaluation strategies. Her expertise includes developing comprehensive evaluation plans, designing data collection tools, and conducting mixed-methods research that translates into actionable insights for stakeholders.
Mary brings a dual background in program evaluation and technical training. During her tenure at Old Dominion University, she collaborated with faculty and community partners to enhance organizational performance through strategic learning design, instructional training, and robust assessment frameworks. Earlier in her career, she managed large-scale academic computing environments and delivered IT training and digital literacy programming for both institutional and community-based organizations.
Her professional experience spans roles with the Virginia Department of Health and Human Services, Georgia Southern University (including work with the Student Disabilities Office), ComCare Behavioral Health Services, and Enoch Transition Home. Across all positions, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusion, access, and technology-enabled problem-solving.
Mary holds a Master of Science in Occupational & Technical Studies (Business & Industry Training) from Old Dominion University and holds certifications in A+ CompTIA, CPR/First Aid, and Human Resources Leadership. She is proficient in SPSS, Excel, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Tableau, Access, Canvas, and Smartsheet, with foundational programming knowledge in HTML. With a deep understanding of both data and people, she bridges evaluation and training to support mission-driven organizations.
Dr. Codjo AC Akpovo
Program and Project Evaluator
Dr. Codjo AC Akpovo is a physicist with expertise in laser-produced plasmas, utilizing fast and ultra-fast high-power laser beams. From 2006 to 2024, he conducted and coordinated research activities for numerous scientific grants at Florida A&M University (FAMU). While coordinating research and program services for the NSF HBCU-UP Science Community for Active Learners to Enhance Achievement and Retention (SCALAR II) STEM research education grant at FAMU from 2019 to 2021, Dr. Akpovo continued conducting scientific research part-time. His experience with this SCALAR II grant sparked a strong interest in program evaluation, which led to an opportunity to step into the field as an independent contractor with Quality Measures LLC (QM) from 2019 to 2024. In 2024, Dr. Akpovo joined the QM team as a Program and Project Evaluator and is actively managing five projects and co-managing two more projects.
Timeca Combs
Accounts Receivable Specialist II
Timeca Combs is a dedicated behavioral health professional and senior military leader with over two decades of service in naval medicine, mental health care, and operational leadership. Currently pursuing her Doctor of Counseling and Psychological Studies with specializations in Addiction Medicine and Traumatology at Regent University, she brings extensive experience in leadership, clinical operations, and behavioral health services.
Since September 2024, Timeca has served as Accounts Receivable Specialist II at Quality Measures, LLC, where she applies her analytical skills and attention to detail in financial operations. From 2023 to 2025, she served as Senior Enlisted Leader for both the Directorate of Public Health Services and Directorate of Clinical Support Services, providing strategic oversight and leadership across multiple healthcare domains. From December 2021 to 2025, she held the position of Chief Advisor to senior command staff as the Command Drug Alcohol and Program Advisor and Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Navy Medicine Readiness Training Command Portsmouth. In this role, she led junior officers and enlisted personnel supporting active-duty service members through aftercare programs, achieving a 95% retention and return to fleet rate while contributing to a 28% reduction in command-wide DUI incidents.
Her military career spans diverse and challenging environments, from leading healthcare operations for 38,000 beneficiaries at Naval Medicine Readiness Training Unit Norfolk to managing behavioral health services for detainees at Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Combs has consistently demonstrated expertise in leadership, crisis intervention, substance abuse rehabilitation, suicide prevention, and psychological care delivery.
Timeca Combs holds a Master of Science in Human Service Counseling with concentrations in Addiction Medicine and Conflict Management from Regent University and a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College. She maintains multiple professional certifications including Living Works ASIST Training for Trainers, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, and a Leadership Development facilitator.
Her commitment extends beyond military service through extensive community involvement, including youth mentorship programs, food drives, Special Olympics support, and volunteer work with organizations such as the American Red Cross and Big Brother Big Sister Program. Ms. Combs’ career reflects a consistent dedication to healing and restoring individuals, families, and communities through comprehensive behavioral health care and leadership.
Emily Mathiak
Evaluation Coordinator
Emily earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in French, with a focus on education, from Virginia Wesleyan University. Emily has experience in French/English translation, market research, as well as quality assurance. She also holds a certification in Data Analytics and has experience in implementing and maintaining the data infrastructure on projects. Her work for Quality Measures LLC includes managing metric data across multiple projects, data collection (conducting interviews and focus groups, coding surveys), data management (cleaning raw data, data verification), as well as summarizing data for reports. Her hobbies include sewing and Mixed Martial Arts.
Alisha Bowditch,
Executive Assistant to the CEO
Alisha Bowditch serves as the Executive Assistant for Quality Measures LLC, supporting executive leadership and operational initiatives across the organization. With a background rooted in residential construction and administrative management, she brings more than a decade of experience in operations, business process optimization, and organizational development.
Before joining Quality Measures, Alisha worked with companies undergoing departmental restructuring and procedural reform, helping them streamline communication, improve efficiency, and strengthen internal alignment. Her ability to create structure, anticipate organizational needs, and coordinate complex priorities ensures that both leadership and project teams operate at their highest capacity.
Born and raised in Montana, Alisha carries forward the resilience and practicality of her roots into every facet of her work. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and grandson.
Nevaeh S. Smith
Research & Survey Database Development
Nevaeh Smith is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Management at Old Dominion University. She has experience in human resources, organizational research, and data analysis, focusing on improving employee experiences and workplace culture. Her passion for becoming an HR specialist and organizational consultant led her to Quality Measures LLC, where she supports the design of survey databases, conducts literature reviews, and assists with data verification and reliability testing. Her research experience includes coding for a meta-analysis on emotional intelligence and workplace mistreatment and contributing to an article under review by the Journal of Business and Psychology. A proud daughter among five in a sea of boys, Nevaeh enjoys spending time surrounded by family and friends.
Dr. Sherrell J. Hendrix
Operations Manager and Remote Team Lead
Dr. Sherrell J. Hendrix is the Operations & Remote Team Lead at Quality Measures LLC. In her role, she manages QM’s team of Independent Contractors while also supporting current evaluation projects.
Dr. Hendrix is skilled in team leadership, operations management, strategic planning, systems thinking, and process design. She has worked with nonprofits, foundations, schools, and public agencies to clarify vision, strengthen organizational capacity, and develop sustainable solutions that balance competing priorities. Her ability to facilitate cross-sector collaborations, manage remote teams effectively, and integrate stakeholder engagement with data-driven decision-making ensures that evaluation and strategic planning efforts are both actionable and measurable.
She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Delaware State University, where she teaches doctoral courses in research methods and design. This teaching role complements her applied work and reflects her commitment to advancing evaluation practice and research capacity in the field.
Dr. Hendrix holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia and both a Master’s and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Old Dominion University.
Before joining Quality Measures, Alisha worked with companies undergoing departmental restructuring and procedural reform, helping them streamline communication, improve efficiency, and strengthen internal alignment. Her ability to create structure, anticipate organizational needs, and coordinate complex priorities ensures that both leadership and project teams operate at their highest capacity.
Born and raised in Montana, Alisha carries forward the resilience and practicality of her roots into every facet of her work. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and grandson.
Courtney Boyd
Independent Contractor
Courtney Boyd’s experience centers around supporting various educational, military, and wellness initiatives through the conduct of program evaluations, clinical trials, and other evidence-based methodologies. With expertise in literature searching and systematic review processes, Courtney has taught workshops on these methodologies as well as basic research literacy. She has co-authored multiple presentations, journal articles, and book chapters on both integrative medicine and cognitive aging topics such as military performance, stress, pain, self-efficacy, and memory. Courtney is a certified Project Management Professional and received her MA in Developmenta0l Psychology, concentrating in Adult Development and Aging, and BS in Psychology, with a minor in Biology and Studio Art from the University of Richmond
Brandie Freeman
Independent Contractor
Brandie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Old Dominion University in Human Services Counseling with a minor in Community Health ,she also has a Master’s Degree in Public Health with a focus on Health Education and Administration. Her studies prepared her for research and analysis, and certification (Certified Health Education Specialist-CHES) earned her the ability to implement and evaluate (public health) programs. While working in hospital management, where she managed work processes in four different hospitals, she decided to expand her passion for public health and interest and began working at a non-profit organization where she analyzed the efficacy of health education programs. In addition, she implemented a new program and provided analysis to stakeholders in efforts to evaluate the program’s efficiency, as well as predict what future steps were needed to further mobilize and improve the program’s overall performance. She has worked closely on projects for the Centers for Disease Control, completing quantitative and qualitative analysis, as well as authored narratives for grant proposals, annual progress reports, and data reports. Brandie has experience with project management, health care management, and a background of counseling that have given her the opportunity to work with diverse populations and identify needs for improvement to ensure programs are reaching goals set out by stakeholders. She has numerous in-person training on diversity, inclusion, and health equity-as well as has worked on larger projects that focus on prioritizing the needs of under-served populations.
Dr. Sundra Kincey
Independent Contractor
Sundra D. Kincey, Ph.D. is Assistant Vice President of Program Quality within the Division of Academic Affairs at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Her primary role is to provide leadership in the development of new degree offerings, oversight of the university program review process, provide assistance to academic programs with specialized accreditation for
initial and reaccreditation, and policy development and implementation related to academic programming and degree authorization. Dr. Kincey’s professional career includes a wealth of experience in higher education that span over a course of twenty years with combined experiences at the university and statewide system level. Those experiences include: policy analysis and development; academic program review and evaluation; specialized accreditation; academic advising and career planning; online instruction; public speaking; supervision; and undergraduate teaching. Dr. Kincey is a member of the inaugural class of FAMU’s Leadership Academy and has research interests in retention, persistence, and academic success of minority students. She also serves as an evaluator for
an NSF ADVANCE grant, consultant report writer for summative and formative data evaluation, and reviewer of select peer-reviewed journals. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and bowling.
Erika Stoerkel
Independent Contractor
Erika is a Marketing Strategist who partners with CEOs looking to scale their business organically. Erika is a certified online business manager. She believes that her work has helped people mitigate costs, improve their reach to key stakeholders and their audience in small ways that proved to have a large impact. Prior to working with small businesses Erika spent nearly a decade with non-profit organizations and the Department of Defense studying integrative modalities to help with performance optimization in the US military. Erika holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston.
Alexis Brame
Independent Contractor
Alexis Brame is an effective communicator with over eight years of experience working in both corporate, retail, and start up environments. Her skill lies in her strategic thinking and ability to creatively resolve issues in fast-paced atmospheres.
She is currently a Human Resources Manager for a young startup that specializes in healthcare and clinical services. In her role she manages a team of five and leads her department in achieving key performance indicators regarding recruitment, onboarding, retention for over 100 employees. Prior to this role, Alexis worked for Target. She began as an Executive Team Lead and over the course of six years, was promoted to General Merchandise and Food Sales Leader. During her time at Target, Alexis oversaw the daily operations for a high-volume Target store that grossed over $80 million in annual sales and managed over 200 team members. She was directly responsible for coordinating internal and external tasks to ensure materials and resources were accurately delivered.
Alexis earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from James Madison University and her Master’s in Business Administration and Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She resides in Virginia with her husband and their three dogs.
Dr. Melissa Quackenbush
Independent Contractor
Dr. Melissa Quackenbush is a graduate the Educational Psychology and Program Evaluation program at Old Dominion University. Prior to completing her dissertation, Dr. Quackenbush earned an Educational Specialist’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University, and she holds a Master of Science in Reading Education from the University of South Florida. While continuing her education, Dr. Quackenbush has served in the public-school systems in Central Florida and Northern New Jersey. She has experience as a secondary English teacher, Reading Specialist, Instructional Technology Coach, Supervisor of Instruction, and Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and Technology. With fifteen years in the field of education, Dr. Quackenbush provides educational consulting services to public and private schools in various areas of instructional design, professional development, and school administration through her LLC, Engage Momentum. Her research interests include teacher training, self-regulated learning, and computer-supported collaborative learning environments.
Dr. Susan Sajada
Independent Contractor
Susan Sajada is an engineer, researcher, and educator. She has a bachelors and master’s in Biomedical Engineering and is currently pursuing her PhD in Engineering Education. She has experience in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods. She has also worked as an engineer in the medical device industry, and as a STEM educator in various contexts. She wishes to use her interdisciplinary expertise to broaden participation in the technical workforce and make technical education more accessible.
Cecilia LaPlace
Independent Contractor
Cecilia La Place is pursuing her Ph.D. in Engineering Education and holds a bachelors and masters degree in Software Engineering. She works on internal tools as a developer and as a community leader supporting her local hackathon community. She is experienced in qualitative research and trained in quantitative and mixed methods research. Her work blends informal and formal educational practices and spaces by focusing on technology, accessibility, and diverse frameworks
Dr. Krystal Andrews
Independent Contractor
Dr. Krystal Andrews, a native of Newport News, Virginia, Krystal Andrews holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a minor in African American Studies, and a Master of Science in Education in Higher Education Leadership from Old Dominion University. Currently, she is the director of student success in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University and is a fourth year as a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . As a practitioner, she has six years of experience in student success and retention programs at both predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that fuels her passion for helping students envision their own success. As a scholar practitioner, she is a member of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). She has also been a member of the Pan African Network directorate board in various positions since 2013, and currently serves as the chair-elect of the network. Her other professional organization memberships include the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) and the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC). Her research interests center on the experiences of Black women graduate students at HBCUs and the persistence of Black student populations across institutional types.
Melissa Kouha
Independent Contractor
Melissa Kouha received her BS/BA degree in International Business and French. She received her master’s degree in IT. She is currently a third year PHD student in Computer Science. Her research interest focuses on broadening minority participation in computer, computer education, and Black women in computing.
Katreena Thomas
Independent Contractor
Katreena Thomas is currently serves as a postdoctoral researcher at Clemson University, through the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) eFellows postdoctoral fellowship. She received her Ph.D. from Arizona State University in Engineering Education Systems Design. She was a member of the Coley Shifting Perceptions, Attitudes, and Cultures in Engineering (SPACE) Lab research group during her doctoral education. She also served as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Intern for the Journal of Engineering Education. Her research interests include broadening participation in engineering, engineering leadership, and marginalized student experiences in engineering. Her dissertation explored the experiences of early-career Black engineers in leadership. She received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and her M.S. in Human Systems Engineering from Arizona State University. Before starting her graduate studies, she worked in the tech industry in operations field. Katreena is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusivity and hopes that her work will impact the culture and environment of the engineering education ecosystem.