Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees Meetings

Jacqueline Y. Gamblin, Board Chair

Image
Trustee Jacqueline Y Gamblin

Jacqueline Gamblin is the Founder and CEO of JYG Innovations, an aerospace firm specializing in IT technology consulting services headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. As a tech executive, Ms. Gamblin has over 30 years of professional experience in various leadership positions within the aerospace, government, regulated, and defense industries building businesses and leading innovation.

She previously held the specialized Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification and served as an Advisory Board member of the James Madison University Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance.

As a transformative thought leader, mentor, and community servant, Ms. Gamblin is motivated by the belief that each of us has the ability and responsibility to positively impact the lives of others. Currently, she serves on the boards of the French Oil Machinery Company, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Gamblin has a Bachelor of Science from Wright State University and a Master of Science from Central Michigan University.

Natalia S. Harris, Vice Chair

Image
Natalia Harris, Trustee

Natalia S. Harris is an alumna of Central State University – Class of ’97, Cum Laude, B.A. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Dayton and became a licensed attorney in 2000. 

She is licensed to practice by the Ohio and United States Supreme Courts. A career public servant, Ms. Harris currently serves as the City Attorney for an Ohio municipality.

Ms. Harris has become the first African American or first African American woman to serve in principal positions throughout her career, including being the first African American female and youngest to serve as City Prosecutor for the city of Cincinnati, Ohio – one of the three largest cities in Ohio.

Ms. Harris is a member of the Central State University National Alumni Association Hall of Fame, a life member of the Central State University National Alumni Association, a member of the National Black Lawyers Association Top 100 (Ohio), an Ohio Supreme Court Lawyer-to-Lawyer mentor, and a fellow of the Cincinnati Bar Association’s Academy of Leadership for Lawyers. She has served on several boards throughout her professional career, including the Cincinnati Bar Association and the Summer Work Experience in Law (SWEL) Program, and has received recognition at the local and state levels for her commitment to the public she serves.

Christopher L. Wyche, Secretary

Image
Trustee Christopher Wyche

Christopher Wyche is currently serving as the Director of External Affairs for the world's largest telecommunications company in the central Ohio area.  He is responsible for ensuring that local communities are aware of the company's key initiatives and for building relationships with local stakeholders.  Additionally, Mr. Wyche helps to manage corporate philanthropy efforts for the central Ohio area.

Prior to joining the company, Mr. Wyche served as Development Manager for City Year Columbus, a local education-focused non-profit that is dedicated to helping students and schools succeed. He also gained valuable experience while serving as the Corporate Relations Manager for the United Way of New England. While working for the United Way, Mr. Wyche was responsible for developing regional fundraising campaigns for large multi-state corporations headquartered in the Boston area.

Mr. Wyche is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics Management and a minor in Psychology. He believes that quality education is the key to future success.

Shon P. Anderson

Image
shon anderson trustee headshot

Shon P. Anderson is the founder of Anderson Financial Strategies, a Dayton-based firm specializing in portfolio management, holistic financial planning, corporate retirement plans, and more. As president and chief wealth strategist, Anderson leads his firm in delivering expertise to clients, helping to meet their financial strategy needs with confidence. He is frequently invited to appear as a financial expert on local TV, and his insights have been quoted in leading financial publications, including CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, Consumer Reports, Forbes, Bankrate.com, Investment News, and Kiplinger’s. Anderson is also a Dayton Business Journal “40 Under 40” award recipient and was inducted into the Greeneview High School Hall of Fame.

Anderson began his financial career in 2003. He is a two-time graduate of Wright State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in financial services and an MBA with a concentration in finance.

From 2009-19 and again from 2023-24, Anderson served as an adjunct professor at Wright State, teaching personal finance and estate planning. He also serves on Wright State’s Planned Giving Council. Anderson has been president of the Dayton CFA Society for six years and sits on the board of the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation.

A Greene County native, Anderson grew up in Jamestown and currently lives in Bellbrook with his wife and four children.

James L. Ervin Jr.

Image
James L. Ervin Jr. trustee headshot

James L. Ervin Jr. serves as the vice president and North American regional chief compliance officer for Toyota Industries North America Inc. (TINA). TINA is a subsidiary of Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), a multinational, values-based company headquartered in Aichi, Japan. Founded in 1926, TICO is a global leader in textile machinery, material handling equipment, automobiles, logistics, and electronics, with a commitment to societal contribution. In his role, Ervin leads a team focused on ensuring TINA and TICO maintain their ethics and compliance program as a competitive advantage.

Ervin’s life is guided by four pillars: faith, family, servant leadership, and a strong work ethic. His dedication to service includes involvement in charitable, philanthropic, and civic organizations. He serves as chair of the Board of Commissioners for the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, a founding board member of the Isabelle Ridgway Care Center Foundation, and immediate past chair of the Catholic Foundation of Columbus, Ohio. He is also a member of the UNCF Columbus Leadership Council and has held leadership roles in the Ohio Black Republicans Association and the Franklin County Republican Party Executive Committee. Additionally, Ervin is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and Pride of the Hilltop Lodge #110 — P.H. F&AM.

Born and raised in south central Los Angeles, Ervin earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in 1993 and a Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School in 1996. He has been admitted to practice law in all Ohio courts since 1996.

Ervin and his wife, Amy, live in Dublin, Ohio, with their two children, Gabby, a sophomore at Howard University, and Charlie, a junior at Bishop Watterson High School. The family attends St. Andrew Parish in Upper Arlington and has a yellow Labrador named Auggie.

Jason R. Manns

Image
Trustee Jason Manns

Jason Manns is a 25-year leader in the insurance industry serving in operations as an officer at Ameriprise, Grange, and Progressive Insurance. He is currently the chief operations officer at Code Blue, a third-party insurance services administrator located in Springfield, Ohio.

Manns has a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in Arizona and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. He is a World Vision sponsor and an Advisory Board member of the Salvation Army with a focus on youth development and poverty alleviation. 

Linda D. Matthews

Image
Trustee Linda Matthews

Linda Matthews is the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Group LLC, an education, and sustainability consulting firm in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Mrs. Matthews serves on the Diversity and Empowerment Council for the Secretary of State, the State Central Committee, and Director & Ambassador for the Frederick Douglass Foundation of Ohio and has also served on the City of Cincinnati Environmental Advisory Council, a Trustee of Mill Creek Watershed Council for Communities, Cincinnati Permaculture Institute, and American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE).

Mrs. Matthews has received numerous awards from Ohio Environmental Council People Voice Award, Village of Lincoln Heights Mayor Award, Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit Award, Cincinnati Herald Nefertiti Award, and Small Business Majority Summit hosted by The White House.  Her passion is in urban development and passionate about breaking the "green ceiling" to ensure that environmental organizations reflect the communities and constituencies that they serve.  As a mentor, she is a servant leader, and mother of two adult children and five grandchildren.  She received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio as well as numerous certifications.

Richard C. Perry

Image
Trustee Richard Perry

Since 1987, Richard C. Perry has served in multiple leadership roles at Pinkney-Perry Insurance Agency, Inc., one of the oldest and largest minority-owned and privately held insurance brokerage firms in the State of Ohio. 

He is a graduate of Central State University with a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing and holds the designation of Accredited Advisor in Insurance (“AAI”) as well as the Certified Insurance Consoler (“CIC”).

A true commitment to his community has led Mr. Perry to devote time to numerous community and charitable causes.  He serves as a member of the board of directors of Recovery Resources and The Presidents’ Council Foundation and is an active supporter of the March of Dimes as well as many local community development corporations.  He is also active with National Minority Supplier Development Council (“NMSDC”), and National African American Insurance Association (“NAAIA”), and is an executive appointee to the Cuyahoga County Community Investment Commission Board of Trustees. 

Asia T. Brown

Image
asia brown student trustee

Student Trustee Asia T. Brown is a sophomore majoring in business marketing at Central State University. A first-generation college student from Dayton, Ohio, Brown embodies kindness, determination, passion, and grace. 

Her leadership journey began as Miss Freshman. In addition to serving as a resident advisor and a member of the Student Advisory Council for the College of Business, Brown plays an important role in addressing student concerns and organizing events. 

Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her consistent placement on the dean’s list, showcasing her academic abilities and dedication. Brown is a proactive advocate for her peers and a rising star in her field, making a positive impact both on campus and beyond.

Nicole C. Holt

Image
nicole holt student trustee

Nicole C. Holt, a dedicated student from Columbus, Ohio, is pursuing a major in integrated English education at Central State University. Known for her academic excellence and leadership skills, she has earned a spot on the dean’s list every semester.

Holt has been actively involved in both academic and extracurricular activities during her time at Central State. In her sophomore year, she served as an Honors College emissary, resident advisor, Dean’s Roundtable chair, and Aspiring Educators chapter secretary. Now a junior, Holt is the president of the Aspiring Educators Chapter, a Crown’d Organization mentor, and the Ohio Education Association Board of Directors’ central regional representative. Additionally, she was appointed a student trustee on the Central State University Board of Trustees.

Holt is passionate about kindness, caring, and the importance of education in her community. She is recognized for her strong communication, organization, observation, time management, teamwork, and flexibility skills. Her experiences both in and out of the classroom highlight her commitment to education and community involvement, positioning her for a successful career in teaching and leadership.

Laura L. Wilson, Esq.

General Counsel and Sec'y to the Board
O:  937-376-6013
E:  lwilson@centralstate.edu