The Ohio Civil Rights Commission has five commissioners appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Commissioners are appointed for five-year, staggered terms. By law, no more than three Commissioners can be of the same political party. The Governor designates one of the Commissioners to serve as Chairperson. The five-member Commission meets every three weeks to discuss civil rights policy and rule on the on recommendations from the OCRC’s six regional offices regarding charges of discrimination.

Chairman Eddie Harrell, Jr. was appointed as a Commissioner by Governor Ted Strickland in July 2008 and was officially named as the Chairman of the Commission in February 2009. Chairman Harrell currently serves as the President & CEO of the Columbus Urban where he is responsible for managing the oldest and largest community organization committed to promoting the organization’s mission of empowering African-Americans and other disadvantaged persons in their ability to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.

Chairman Harrell has also served as Executive Director of I KNOW I CAN and Project GRAD where he worked in partnership with the Columbus School District to provide quality public education to the city’s youth in an effort to provide students with the tools necessary for preparing to enter college. He has held numerous community leadership positions including Executive Director of I KNOW I CAN and Project GRAD, Board Member on the Executive Committees and Boards of Directors for I KNOW I CAN, COSI (Center of Science and Industry), Columbus Public Schools Education Foundation, KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), Youth for a Positive Image, Greater Linden Development Corporation and many others. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the Diversity Area for the City of Columbus 2012 Bicentennial Commission.

Mr. Harrell received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Otterbein College and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Ashland University. His current term ends July 28, 2012.

Commissioner Rashmi Yajnik of Hilliard was initially appointed by Governor Bob Taft in August, 2006.  Governor Ted Strickland reappointed him on September 19, 2008 to a term ending in July, 2013.  Commissioner Yajnik is the founder and President of California Hydrocarbons Corporation.  He is very active in the Columbus Asian community and is the founder, past president and current board member of the Asian Indian American Business Group.  He has also served on the Ohio Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.  Commissioner Yajnik is a current member of the Asian Indian Alliance, the Federation of Asian Indian Associations of Central Ohio, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Ohio Oil & Gas Association, and the Columbus Council of World Affairs.

Commissioner Yajnik received an award from the OCRC for outstanding leadership in the Asian American community, and the Founder’s Award for his outstanding commitment to the growth and success of the Asian American Business Group.

Commissioner Yajnik holds an Engineering degree from Birla Engineering College in India and Vanderbilt University.

Commissioner Leonard Hubert (Granville) was appointed by Governor Bob Taft in July 2006. Previously, he served as the Director of External Affairs and Economic Opportunity for Governor Taft. Mr. Hubert was previously the Acting State EEO Coordinator and Deputy Director of the Department of Administrative Services and Chief of the Division of Weights and Measures for the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Mr. Hubert is the Chairman of the Governor's Minority Business Council and Chairman of the Ohio Commission on African American Males. He also serves as a Trustee on the Ohio 4-H Foundation and is a Commissioner on Ohio's Dr. Martin Luther King Commission. He serves as the President of the Granville Kiwanis Club and as a Member of the Granville Township Zoning Appeals Board. Mr. Hubert earned both his Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree from Alabama A & M. His current terms ends July 28, 2011.

Commissioner Tom Roberts was appointed to the Commission in March 2009 by Governor Strickland. Commissioner Roberts is a dedicated public servant as demonstrated by his service in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate where he represented the people of the Miami Valley/Dayton area for more than 20 years. During his tenure in the State Legislature, Commissioner Roberts was dedicated to a number of issues of significant importance to the public and served on various committees including the Foreclosure Task Force, Predatory Lending Study Committee, Homelessness and Affordable Housing Committee, Ohio Advisory Council for the Aging, and the Policy Advisory Group for the Department of Youth Services, among others. Commissioner Roberts also a devoted member of his community and an active participant in community organizations including the Dayton Chapter of the NAACP, Wright Patterson Air Force base BRAC Task Force, City Wide Planning and Programming Committee, Dayton Museum of National History Board, University of Dayton Board of Trustees, and the Jobs for Graduates of Miami Valley. Additionally, he previously served as Chairman of City of Dayton Domestic Violence Task Force and the Alliance for Work Base Education.

Commissioner Roberts’ commitment to service in the State of Ohio and his local community has been recognized through many awards and accolades. He was named 2004 and 2006 Legislator of the Year for the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio for his work with Predatory Lending issues, 2005 Breast Cancer Hero Award from the Northern Ohio Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, Artemis Peacekeeper Award, 2001 Top Ten African-American Male Award, Dayton Job Corps Director’s Recognition Award, Dayton Boys and Girls Club Fred Bowers Public Service Award, WROU-FM Black Achievement Award, Council of State Government Toll Fellow Award, Ohio Homeless Coalition Appreciation Award, Ohio Housing Coalition Special Contribution Award, Ohio Youth Services President Award for Outstanding Contributor, and the Men and Women of Courage Award for Community Outreach.

Currently, Commissioner Roberts serves as an advisor for the Sinclair Ohio Fellows Student Leadership Development program and a co-advisor for the Student Government Association. He is a native and current resident of the Dayton, Ohio area, and a graduate of the University of Dayton where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Commissioner Roberts’ current term will end in July 2010.