Meet the board
Derrick Jackson, Director
Term expires April 2025
Derrick Jackson is a progressive leader in the criminal legal system, rooted in service to Washtenaw County. Having developed a passion for justice reforms while earning his Bachelors and Masters in Social Work, Derrick sought out to create positive changes in his community on behalf of his neighbors.
In 2009, Derrick joined the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, where he has spent the last 14-years designing and implementing systems that transform traditional policing strategies. In 2012 Derrick graduated with multiple distinctions from the police academy at Schoolcraft college. As a certified law enforcement officer with a background in social work, Derrick knows what it means to implement restorative and rehabilitative practices, while keeping our community safe.
Brian Muthig, Chair
Term expires April 2024
Bryan is the founder and CEO of A2 Hosting, an internationally known web hosting company hosting more than 500,000 websites in over 215 countries and territories around the world.
A first-generation American, born in Ann Arbor, Bryan has held a lifelong interest in technology. He attended Michigan Technological University before beginning his entrepreneurial career. Bryan believes in supporting others’ passions and creating environments that break down barriers so that students can attain their full potential.
Donald J. Peurach, Ph. D., Director
Term expires April 2024
Donald J. Peurach is a Professor of Educational Policy, Leadership, and Innovation in the University of Michigan’s School of Education. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. Peurach’s research, teaching, and outreach focus on the organization and management of education systems, with a particular focus on network-based continuous improvement. Peurach is co-editing a forthcoming handbook on improvement research in education to be published by Rowman and Littlefield. Dr. Peurach is also the author of Seeing Complexity in Public Education: Problems, Possibilities, and Success for All (2011, Oxford University Press) and co-author of Improvement by Design: The Promise of Better Schools (2014, University of Chicago Press).
Dr. Peurach holds a BA and teaching certificate from Wayne State University, an MPP from the University of Michigan, and PhD from the University of Michigan.
Muddasar Tawakkul, Director
Term expires February2027
Mr. Tawakkul has built a career assuring safe and effective procedures at southeastern Michigan institutions both public and private. He served for more than a decade as legal counsel and purchasing director for Wayne County, and he now leads compliance and privacy oversight for FordDirect, an automotive industry group. His professional expertise includes professional ethics, information security, and legal-regulatory advice. Mr. Tawakkul’s international experience, legal training, and senior management experience represent valuable contributions to the WTMC Board.
Mr. Tawakkul holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Jan Gensheimer, Vice Chair
Term expires April 2025
Ms. Gensheimer is a business consult working with startups and second stage companies. Her company, UberLeaders, is focused on helping successful entrepreneurs grow faster and smarter. She has led privately held companies and nonprofits (MichBio, NPower Michigan) through transitions. She has corporate experience designing and delivering marketing, strategy and re-engineering solutions for businesses, government and health care organization such as 3M Healthcare, the Medstat Group and Wayne County.
She received a B.A. and Secondary Education Teaching Certificate from Eastern Michigan University and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Paulette R. Miller, Treasurer
Term expires April 2026
Ms. Miller is the president of Miller & Associate, P.C., of Ann Arbor, and has served as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for a number of companies since 1973. Her community involvement has included membership on the Board of Directors of the Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce, president of the Business & Professional Women's Club, Treasurer of the Ronald McDonald House, president of the Washtenaw Economic Development Council, and Treasurer of the Washtenaw Community College Foundation.
She received a degree in Mathematics & Accounting from Michigan Technological University and her B.B.A. in Accounting (with Mathematics minor).
Alex Milshteyn, WCC Board Liaison
Term expires April 2024
Alex represents residential real estate sellers and buyers in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area. Alex is a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) – an achievement that only 2% of all REALTORS worldwide have achieved. He is also among the top 1% of all Realtors in the Ann Arbor area and in the state of Michigan. Alex has previously been recognized as one of the Top 30 REALTORS in the Nation Under 30 by REALTOR Magazine, the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors’ Realtor of the Year, and one of Crain’s Detroit 20 In Their 20s.
Alex prides himself on a strong commitment to the community and spends hundreds of hours volunteering for local organizations. He also serves the real estate community by being a Board Member of the National Association of Realtors and a Board Member of the Michigan Realtors. In 2010, Alex served as the President of the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors. In 2021, Alex served as President of the Residential Real Estate Council (RRC).
Alex was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He attended Ann Arbor area schools – Logan Elementary, Clague Middle School, and Washtenaw Technical Middle College. He is a graduate of Washtenaw Community College with a degree in Web Design and Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Business Administration.
Will Johnson, Director
Term expires April 2024
Mr. Johnson served as president and CEO of Chelsea Community Hospitals from 1975 to 1998. He has worked in health care administration for more than 30 years. He has also served on the boards of numerous health care, civic and social organizations, including the American Red Cross, the Chelsea Community Foundation, the Chelsea Community Hospital, Silver Maples of Chelsea, and the Washtenaw Development Council.
He holds a B.A. from the College of Wooster and a Masters of Health Administration from the University of Michigan.
Katie Richards-Schuster, Ph. D., Director
Term expires April 2026
Dr. Richards-Schuster is an assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Her research focuses on youth participation strategies and community-based participatory evaluation with young people. She works in collaboration with communities across the country including metro Detroit, Mississippi Delta, Appalachia, Chicago, and St. Louis. Dr. Richards-Schuster also teaches community practice courses in the School of Social Work and co-facilitates its Michigan Youth and Community Program. She has organized and presented at national meetings, created curricular workbooks, and co-authored multiple publications in leading youth development, community organization, and program evaluation journals.
She holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan, an M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan's joint doctoral program in Social Work and Sociology.