Ersa Poston

Ersa Hines Poston[1] (née Ersa Elizabeth Hines;[2] March 3, 1921 — January 7, 2009) was an American anti-poverty activist and civil service reformer. She was the first African American woman appointed to the Civil Service Commission. She then became vice chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board. She also went by the name Ersa Hines Clinton.[1]

Early life and education

She was born in Mayfield, Kentucky.[2] She had African American and Cherokee ancestry.[2][3] She graduated from Kentucky State University in 1942.[4]

Career

She was appointed to New York's Youth Commission in 1957.[5] She was Director of the New York State Office of Economic Opportunity from 1965 – 1967. She served as President of the New York State Civil Service Commission from 1967 – 1975. She was appointed a member of the U.S. Civil Service Commission by U.S. President Jimmy Carter in 1977.[6][7]

Her nomination for federal office received various letters of endorsement.[1]

In 1973 she received a distinguished service award from the president of Buffalo State University.[8] She received the Warren W. Stockberger Award in 1983.[9]

Personal life

She married Ted Poston of the prominent Poston family of Hopkinsville, Kentucky.[10]

In 1977 she was photographed at the Women's Conference in Houston, Texas.[11]

References
  1. "Nominations of Ersa H. Poston and Jule M. Sugarman: Hearing Before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-fifth Congress, First Session, on Nominations of Ersa H. Poston and Jule M. Sugarman to be Commissioners, Civil Service Commission, May 27, 1977". United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. U.S. Government Printing Office. February 19, 1977 – via Google Books.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Bernstein, Adam (January 24, 2009). "Ersa H. Poston, 87, female pioneer in US Civil Service". Boston.com – via The Boston Globe.
  3. "Woman in the News; Leader in Poverty Fight; Ersa Elizabeth Poston". New York Times. December 10, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. ProQuest 115944816 – via NYTimes.com.
  4. "Kentucky State University | Notable Alumni". www.kysu.edu.
  5. "New York (State). Division for Youth - Social Networks and Archival Context". snaccooperative.org.
  6. "Women's History Month: Women of color whose names you should know". USA Today. May 2, 2000. ISSN 2165-1779. ProQuest 1874122088.
  7. "Ersa Poston, civil service administrator". Newsday. January 23, 2009. pp. A42. ProQuest 280302701.
  8. "PRESIDENT'S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD | Commencement | SUNY Buffalo State University". commencement.buffalostate.edu.
  9. "Past Award Winners | IPMA-HR". www.ipma-hr.org.
  10. "Past Award Winners | IPMA-HR". www.ipma-hr.org.
  11. "Ersa Poston". www.digitalcommonwealth.org.
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