Central State University
The Board of Trustees

Elizabeth M. Watkins, Esq.-Chair
Elizabeth Watkins Elizabeth M. Watkins is a full-time parent, management team member and General Counsel for a large livestock and grain farming operation. She received her Juris Doctorate with Honors from the The Ohio State University College of Law, and is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Business Administration. She is also a member of the Governing Board of the Ohio Consumers Council as well as a member of the Agricultural Law Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association.


Gary A. Dowdell-Vice Chair
Gary Dowdell Gary Dowdell has a Bachelor of Science degree from Central State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago. Mr. Dowdell is the Director of Snacks & Beverages for GBU and is a Loaned Executive from Procter & Gamble to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. He is currently serving as the museums Chief Financial Officer.


Della M. Green-Secretary
Della Green Della Green of Kettering is retired from the Cleveland City School District, where she served as director of the division of certified personnel. She is active locally, serving on the boards for the Dayton Boys and Girls Club and St. Joseph Childrens Treatment Center, among others.


Oney D. Temple
Oney Temple Oney D. Temple is the former Ohio President of American Electric Power. He has also served as the director of community services and economic development as well as manager-energy marketing for AEP Energy Services Inc.

In addition, Mr. Temple served as Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Development heading the Economic Development Division and served as the Akron regional liaison for the Office of the Governor. Prior to that position, he was a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Akron and held various marketing and management positions with IBM, Xerox and the McDonaldÕs Corporation. In 1978, Mr. Temple was awarded U.S. patent D257,298 for a high chair he developed for restaurant use.


C. William Swank, Ph.D.
Bill Swank C. William Swank, Ph.D., is a retired executive with the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation in 1996 after 40 years of service. His prior service includes Chairman of the Ohio Farmland Preservation Task Force, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Washington, D.C. based Cooperative Business International, a corporation which promotes global marketing among cooperatives.


Deborah A. Feldman
Deborah A. Feldman Deborah A. Feldman has served as Montgomery County’s Administrator since June, 1997.  Prior to County Administrator, Ms. Feldman has served as:  Assistant Administrator, Personnel Director, and Financial Analyst in the county’s Office of Management and Budget.  With a total of almost 22 years of service to Montgomery County, she has been involved with all aspects of county government.

Ms. Feldman is an active volunteer in the community and participates on the board of:  Culture Works, Downtown Dayton Partnership, Dayton Jewish Federation, Hillel Academy and Downtown Dayton Rotary. 

Ms. Feldman obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Miami University, and her Masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.


Donna B. Evans, Ph.D.
Donna Browder Evans Donna B. Evans, retired Dean and Professor Emeritus of The Ohio State University College of Education, is an accomplished academic leader who has led successful initiatives to improve education and to influence educational policy and practice.  She earned three degrees from Ohio State’s College of Education; a B.S. in Elementary Education; a M.A. degree in Counselor Education; and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education, Human Growth and Development, and Educational Administration.

Dr. Evans did post-graduate work at the University of Rochester and post-doctoral work at the Institute for Reality Therapy (now the William Glasser Institute) and Harvard University.  Before coming to Ohio State in July, 2000, she was Dean of the Darden College of Education at Old Dominion University in Virginia.  Previously, she was Dean at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and Wayne State University in Detroit.


Charles R. Saxbe, Esq.
Saxbe, Charles R. Charles R. Saxbe is the co-managing partner of the Columbus, Ohio law firm of Chester, Willcox & Saxbe, LLP. He has been the principal litigation counsel in numerous complex litigations, including numerous jury trials and has appeared before the Ohio Supreme Court, Ohio Courts of Appeals, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.

In 1969, Mr. Saxbe enlisted in the US Marine Corps., served as an infantry platoon commander with the First Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam and was discharged with the rank of Captain.

Mr. Saxbe received his Juris Doctorate in 1975 from The Ohio State University College of Law. He was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives where he served four terms and in 1982, he was the Republican nominee for Ohio Attorney General.