Our board of trustees serves to provide oversight and guidance. The board of trustees is also responsible for helping make decisions that will define operations. The life and work of Lydia’s House would not be possible without their generosity. The following people are members of the current board.
The Rev. Jane Gerdsen is our board chair. Jane is an Episcopal priest. She is the rector of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Montgomery, Ohio. Previously she served for 10 years on the staff of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, as Canon for Ministry Development and at several other churches in Dayton and Cincinnati. She is passionate about the development of new faith communities and working to create a more just and equitable world. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Episcopal Divinity School. Prior to seminary, Jane was a Montessori teacher and worked as a Director of Religious Education. Jane and her husband, Rob, have two children.
Kathy Porter is a graduate of University of Cincinnati with a degree in Criminal Justice. She currently works for a women’s correction facility. She is a former Lydia’s House intern. Kathy understands the experience of Lydia’s House guests as she too was once homeless with her children, turned her life around and now mentors women in crisis.
Jolanda Williams currently serves as supervisor of Talbert House’s Community Link program, where she oversees operation of the services provided to Hamilton County Job and Family Services TANF customers ages 18 to 24. Prior to working with Talbert House, Jalonda worked 17 years with the Cincinnati Job Corps center as a Residential Advisor, Counseling Manager and Programs Director. She also worked as the Social Development Director at the Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps Center. Jalonda is passionate about assisting young adults on their journey through adulthood and self-sufficiency.
Anne Housholder is a dermatologist with UC Health as well as a trained theologian and public health practitioner. Anne also completed a fellowship in ethics and consults on medical ethics cases in the region. She lived at Lydia’s House for 3 years as a volunteer before settling in her own Norwood home and continuing as a house duty volunteer in 2019. Anne makes beautiful desserts for Lydia’s House parties and custom crafts for celebrations.
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