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Commission on Human Rights CommissionersThomas M. Anderson, JD, SPHR - Chair Thomas M. Anderson, JD, SPHR, is a certified human resource professional, Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and an attorney admitted to the State Bar of Texas. Presently, he is employed by the Houston Community College System as the Director of Human Resources. Tom graduated with a degree in Psychology from Purdue University and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps after graduation. After completing the Marine Corps Basic Officers Course in Quantico, Virginia, Tom was transferred to Pensacola, Florida to train to become a Naval Aviator. He received his wings and flew as a helicopter pilot. Shortly after transitioning to a new aircraft, he spent a tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam as a Marine Corps helicopter pilot. After leaving the Marine Corps with the rank of Captain, he attended DePauw University and earned a Masters Degree in Education. While attending DePauw he also was an assistant coach in football and baseball and head swimming coach. Prior to working in the public sector he worked in private industry for over 25 years, most recently for Reynolds Metals Company and Tredegar Industries. While working for Reynolds in Texas, Tom attended and graduated from South Texas College of Law. He is also an American Arbitration Association trained and certified mediator. He is currently a mediator with Fort Bend County Dispute Resolution Center. He has extensive experience in labor relations: -negotiating labor contracts; handling grievances and arbitrations; health and safety issues; workers compensation hearings; training; recruiting; compensation; benefits; and investigations dealing with a wide variety of legal and administrative issues, including EEO, sexual harassment, ERISA, OSHA, workers compensation and unemployment claims. In addition to his work, Tom has been involved in leadership roles with the following organizations and activities: Appointed by Governor Perry as Chair of the Texas Commission on Human Rights; Board of Directors, HR Houston; President, HR Houston; Legislative Action, Career Services and Senior HR Leadership Committee Chair (HR Houston); Member, Legislative Action Committee, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM); Texas (SHRM) State Council, Legislative Action Co-Chair, Certification Chair and Chair for Texas Legislative and Employment Law Conference; Member, Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association; Mediator with the Fort Bend Dispute Resolution Center; Member, Texas Association of Business Workers Compensation Jobs for Texas Task Force; (Former) Employer Representative to Medical Review Committee of Texas Workers Compensation Committee (TWCC); Past Member, American Bar Association; Past Member, Employment and Labor Law Section of American and State Bar of Texas; Member, State Bar of Texas; Member, Fort Bend County Bar; Past Member, National Safety Council; recipient of the 2000 HR Houston Tom Burke Distinguished Professional in Human Resources Award; active in many other various local and civic activities. Tom and wife Brenda, an Assistant Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, have two grown children and two grandchildren. Michelle Diggs - Commissioner Michelle H. Diggs of Cedar Park is a marketing services manager for 3M Company. She serves on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Central Texas, the advisory council for Mt. Sinai Christian Academy, and the advisory board for Any Baby Can, Child and Family Services Center. Diggs received a bachelor's degree in Government from the University of Texas, and a master's degree in Business Management from St. Edward's University. Toni Rhodes Glover - Commissioner Toni Rhodes Glover is the owner of a custom design jewelry business and a college student pursuing her Bachelors in Political Science leading to a law degree. She is an advocate for people with developmental disabilities and in this role has served on numerous committees, participated in writing legislation, and met with legislators to discuss issues and develop solutions. Ms. Glover serves on various committees and is a member of two Chambers of Commerce. She is married and is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Shara Michalka - Commissioner Shara Michalka is currently the Assistant Regional Counsel for the United States Department of Health and Human Services (Regional Attorney for the Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service). She provides legal advice and training; reviews proposed legislation and writes comments to proposed legislation; litigates cases in federal district courts; provides consultation regularly with senior level officials within the Indian Health Service on sensitive legal and program issues. She was previously a Trial Attorney for the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Michalka has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas Tech University. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law. Ms. Michalka is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas, and the William "Mac" Taylor American Inn of Court. She is the former Chairman of the Board of Management for the YMCA Texas Youth and Government Program and is a former Board Member of the Park Cities Republican Women's Club. Travis A. Morris - Commissioner Travis A. Morris of Austin is founder and pastor of the Empowerment Temple. He is a member of the Austin Police Department Youth Committee and the NAACP. He is also a past Nacogdoches city councilman and a past member of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments. Mr. Morris attends Texas College. Danny L. Osterhout - Commissioner Mr. Osterhout owns and operates Magneto Service and Supply and is a long time resident of Andrews, Texas. He is the past president of the Downtown Andrews Lions Club and a current member of the Andrews County Veterans Board of Directors. Mr. Osterhout also volunteers his time as a referee for the Texas High School Power Lifting Association. Upon graduating from high school, Mr. Osterhout attended Odessa College and served our country in the U.S. Marine Corps. Currently Mr. Osterhout is the vice president and general manager of Magneto Service and Supply, an oil drilling company founded in 1952 and based out of Andrews. Veronica Stidvent - Commissioner Ms. Stidvent grew up in El Paso, Texas, the daughter of a school counselor and a high school soccer coach. After completing high school, Ms. Stidvent was accepted into The University of Texas at Austin's Plan II Honors Program. She graduated college with a degree in American Studies and was even honored as a Dean's Distinguished Graduate. After earning her law degree at Yale, Ms. Stidvent served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Disney Fitzwater, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Ms. Stidvent also served as the Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor, where she provided advice and counsel to the Secretary of Labor on labor issues affecting the American worker. Prior to her appointment as Assistant Secretary, Stidvent served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President for Policy, where she helped develop policy on a range of issues including labor, education, justice, homeland security, and regulatory reform. Stidvent was previously honored to serve on the University Texas Commission of 125, a group of citizens convened to express a vision of how The University of Texas can best serve Texas and society during the next 25 years. Stidvent has also been honored by the National Association of Hispanic Publishers as a Latina Role Model. Currently, Ms. Stidvent is a lecturer in McCombs new Department of Business, Government and Society and program director of the Hispanic Leadership Initiative at The University of Texas at Austin. |