GCQA was founded by Dr. Thomas Clawson, who has extensive experience in higher education, career development, quality assurance, and global communications. Dr. Clawson’s life-long pursuit is to help all individuals realize their dreams and reach their full potential.

Dr. Clawson has been both a professor and administrator, working in five European countries. He cultivated many international master’s degree students. Later professional works include the Center for Quality Assurance in International Education, the National Organization of Competency Assurance (President), the National Commission on Certifying Agencies (Chair) and three higher education trusteeships. He has represented his organizations in the UNESCO Non-Government Organizations Group, OECD’s global university recognition project, the US National Academies of Science Global Medicine group, the International Association for Counseling, and the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs. He served as president and CEO of the National Board for Certified Counselors, the NBCC Foundation, the Research and Assessment Corporation for Counseling, and the Center for Credentialing & Education (1989-2018). During his time at NBCC and Affiliates, NBCC worked in more than 30 countries globally.