TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced nine appointments across three state boards Thursday, placing a former federal human trafficking prosecutor on the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking and Florida’s 2023 Teacher of the Year on the Board of Control for Southern Regional Education.
Khari James, now Senior Legal Counsel for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and an Adjunct Professor at the Florida State University College of Law, previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida and a Human Trafficking Attorney for Legal Services of North Florida. James earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida and her juris doctor from Florida State University. She joins Emilie Oglesby, the Deputy Secretary of Business Regulation at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, on the trafficking council.
Oglesby previously served as an Assistant Deputy Secretary of Florida Commerce, the External Affairs Manager at the State Board of Administration, and the Director of Communications and External Affairs at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University.
For the Board of Control for Southern Regional Education, DeSantis appointed Melissa Matz, a teacher at Lakeside Junior High School in Clay County who was designated as the Teacher of the Year for the State of Florida in 2023. After her selection, Matz served as Florida’s Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. Joining her is Mel Ponder, President of Northwest Florida State College, who previously served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives representing District 4 and as a member of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners. Ponder earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University.
The governor also appointed April Busby and reappointed four members to the Holmes County Hospital Corporation. Busby is the Northwest Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Supervisor for the Florida Department of Children and Families, where she previously served as a Regional Collaboration Coordinator, a Monitoring and Technical Assistance Analyst, and a Human Services Program Specialist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Troy University.
The four reappointments to the Holmes County board are Cynthia Brooks, a retired Holmes County Public Schools teacher and member of the American Society for Clinical Pathology who holds degrees from the University of West Florida and Florida State University; Jerry Dixon, a retired Holmes County Public Schools principal and former Holmes County School Board member who has been a resident of Holmes County for over 55 years, with degrees from Chipola College, Florida State University, and Troy University; Amanda Eldridge, a Partner and Director of Operations for School Financial Services, Inc. who previously served as a Civil and Criminal Court Clerk for the Walton County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Office; and Jennie Goodman, a Relief Pharmacist for Pancare/Goldens and former member of the Chipola College District Board of Trustees who earned her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Florida.
All nine appointments are subject to Florida Senate confirmation.