Ersa Poston Explained

Ersa Hines Poston (née Ersa Elizabeth Hines; 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. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. ^[1]

Early life and education

She was born in Mayfield, Kentucky.^[2] She had African American and Cherokee ancestry.^[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.^[8]

In 1973 she received a distinguished service award from the president of Buffalo State University.^[9] She received the Warren W. Stockberger Award in 1983.^[10]

Personal life

She married Ted Poston of the prominent Poston family of Hopkinsville, Kentucky.^[11]

In 1977 she was photographed at the Women's Conference in Houston, Texas.^[12]

Notes and References

1. Alpha . Alpha Kappa . 1967 . Delta Rho Omega Soror receives appointment to top position in New York. . Ivy Leaf . 43 . 2 . 8.
2. News: Ersa H. Poston, 87, female pioneer in US Civil Service. Adam. Bernstein. Boston.com . January 24, 2009. The Boston Globe.
3. News: December 10, 1964 . Woman in the News; Leader in Poverty Fight; Ersa Elizabeth Poston . . 0362-4331 . . NYTimes.com.
4. Web site: Kentucky State University | Notable Alumni. www.kysu.edu.
5. Web site: New York (State). Division for Youth - Social Networks and Archival Context. snaccooperative.org.
6. News: May 2, 2000 . Women's History Month: Women of color whose names you should know . . 2165-1779 . .
7. News: January 23, 2009 . Ersa Poston, civil service administrator . A42 . . .
8. Web site: February 19, 1977 . United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs . 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 . U.S. Government Printing Office . Google Books.
9. Web site: PRESIDENT'S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD | Commencement | SUNY Buffalo State University . commencement.buffalostate.edu.
10. Web site: Past Award Winners | IPMA-HR . www.ipma-hr.org.
11. Web site: Past Award Winners | IPMA-HR. www.ipma-hr.org.
12. Web site: Ersa Poston. www.digitalcommonwealth.org.