Ersa Poston

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.

Early life and education
She was born in Mayfield, Kentucky. She had African American and Cherokee ancestry. She graduated from Kentucky State University in 1942.

Career
She was appointed to New York's Youth Commission in 1957. 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.

Her nomination for federal office received various letters of endorsement.

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

Personal life
She married Ted Poston of the prominent Poston family of Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

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