Executive Profiles

Barbara L. Nichols, DHL, MS, RN, FAAN
Chief Executive Officer

Barbara L. Nichols is the Chief Executive Officer of CGFNS International. Prior to holding this position, Ms. Nichols served as professor of nursing at the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing and director of nursing for Wisconsin Area Health Education Center System. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and is on their Personnel Certification and Accreditation Committee. She held a cabinet position in Wisconsin State Government, is a former International Council of Nurses (ICN) Board Member and a past President of the American Nurses Association. As Secretary of the Department of Regulation and Licensing for the state of Wisconsin, she was responsible for 17 Boards that regulated 59 occupations and professions.

During her tenure as the CEO of CGFNS International, Ms. Nichols has received many accolades from the community. These include being a 2006 Inaugural Inductee to the National Black Nurses Association Institute of Excellence, the 2007 Distinguished Scholar, Howard University College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Division of Nursing and being named an Ambassador in Research! America’s Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research, where she serves as one of 50 of the nation’s foremost global health experts who have joined forces to increase awareness about the critical need for greater US public and private investment in research to improve global health.

Ms. Nichols is the author of over 70 publications on nursing and health care delivery, including her most recent contribution as a Guest Editor on “Policy, Politics and Nursing Practice”, in the August 2006 edition of Building Global Alliances III, The Impact of Global Nurse Migration on Health Service Delivery. She holds a diploma in nursing from Massachusetts Memorial Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, a baccalaureate degree from Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio, and a master’s degree in Behavior Disabilities from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Ms. Nichols also served her country as a nurse as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Nurse Corps.

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Leo W. Clayboss, Jr., CPA
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Leo Clayboss has over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance in various industries inclduing health care, manufacturing, information technology, telelcommunications, chemical, service and higher education. He served as the CFO of a $70-million health care system for five years. Mr. Clayboss was also a financial officer of two software companies and a senior manager for a Big Four CPA firm. He has worked with enterprises ranging from emerging businesses to Fortune 500 companies. He is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institues of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the Financial Executives International.

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Catherine R. Davis, PhD, RN
Director of Global Research and Test Administration

Dr. Catherine Davis is the Director of Global Research and Test Administration for CGFNS International. Prior to joining CGFNS International, Dr. Davis was Associate Professor of Nursing at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, where she taught in the Associate, Baccalaureate and Master’s Programs and served as the initial President of the Nu Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Dr. Davis holds a PhD in Nursing from Adelphi University and a Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the National Editorial Advisory Board of Advance for Nurses and serves as a manuscript reviewer for Sigma Theta Tau’s Journal of Nursing Scholarship. Dr. Davis has authored and edited publications on international nursing and has presented at regional, national and international health care conferences.

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Julia Yuen-Heung To Dutka, EdD
Director of Global Assessment and Professional Services

Dr. Julia Yuen-Heung To Dutka is the Director of Global Assessment and Professional Services and is responsible for all programs and services offered by CGFNS International. Dr. To Dutka, born and raised in Hong Kong, has served higher education in her role as professor, academic dean and associate provost at Montclair State University, Baruch College (The City University of New York) and Capital University, respectively. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. To Dutka’s portfolio included administrative oversight on academic programs, accreditation, assessment, program review, research and grants administration, general education, continuing education, student services and academic support services.

Dr. To Dutka has also served in the nonprofit sector. As the Executive Director of International Language Programs at Educational Testing Service (ETS), she oversaw the transition of the TOEFL program to computer-based testing with an operational network serving one million test-takers worldwide annually. Reporting to the TOEFL Policy Council, Dr. To Dutka managed a budget of $80 million and all aspects of the program on behalf of the Council.

Dr. ToDutka received her BA in English from Hong Kong University, an MA and an EdM in Applied Linguistics, and an EdD in Language and Reading from Columbia University. She has published in the field of language acquisition and cognition and on topics pertaining to access and equity and educational assessment. She has presented research findings and delivered lectures and inspirational talks to professional and public audiences nationally and internationally.

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Donna Rae Richardson, JD, RN
Director of Governmental Affairs and Professional Standards

Donna Rae Richardson is the Director of Governmental Affairs and Professional Standards for CGFNS International. Previously, she was the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Women’s Health Initiative of the Nation’s Capital and Director of Clinical Trials Programs at Howard University Cancer Center which increased minority physician and patient participation in clinical trials. She also served as an Assistant Professor of Nursing and Medicine at Howard University. A registered nurse and attorney, Ms. Richardson is counsel to the law firm of Joan Wilbon and Associates. As Director of Governmental Affairs of the American Nurses Association she directed the legislative and regulatory policies that led to the Nursing Immigration Relief Act and occupational health protections for nurses. Prior to that she was an attorney at the Department of Labor. She is a recognized speaker and resource on foreign-educated nurses, HIV policy, women’s health research, occupational health for nurses, and clinical trial recruitment. Ms. Richardson was honored in 2007 as a Distinguished Citizen for her career in health and law by Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio.

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Petula L. Wilson, PHR
Director of Human Resources

Petula Wilson joined CGFNS International in January 1999. In Ms. Wilson’s role as Director of Human Resources, she has responsibility for compensation and benefits, staffing, recruitment and employee relations. Ms. Wilson reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining CGFNS, Ms. Wilson was the Director of Human Resources for the Center City District, a business improvement district created to revitalize Philadelphia’s downtown area. Ms. Wilson has over 10 years of experience in the area of human resources, holds a Bachelor of Science from Temple University, and has been certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

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