Board Of Directors

Jack Wagner, President
jack.wagner@mijustice.org

Jack is motivated to see change come to the criminal justice system in Michigan after watching his son- in-law become entangled in what can only be characterized as an imperfect process of justice administration. As a young man growing up in the 1970’s Jack experienced firsthand being incarcerated as a juvenile in the New Jersey prison system. He experienced exposure to a system prior to the era of mass incarceration and so was treated fairly and proportionally for his crimes. It was this experience which in large part put him on a different road and one that led to Jack earning his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University College of Engineering in 1985. After marrying his college sweetheart and starting a family in New Jersey, Jack moved to Michigan in 1992 and has since raised six children outside of Ann Arbor where he and his wife now live.

Jessica Siminski, Vice President
jessica.siminski@mijustice.org

It is by the grace of God my eyes have been opened to see the broken justice system. It was through traumatic events of one mistake our lives
were changed forever. I stand to advocate as a child of God, a wife, mother and a healthcare provider for my family, for our little children who are victims and have no say, who suffer the greatest loss. I fight to reunite families, to share our stories and to shed light in the darkness. We are to “Remember those in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated as if you are yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3). I fight to reunite families, to share our stories and to shed light in the darkness.

Mariah LeRolland-Wagner, Executive Director
mariah@mijustice.org

Mariah comes to Michigan Justice Advocacy from a background in non-profits working with Girl Scouts, YMCAs and Youth Sports Clubs. Her passion for criminal justice reform comes from the desire to make the world a better place. She has joined MJA as the Executive Director to help bring organization and structure to the many volunteers and advocates who are helping with our cause.

Donna Robinson, Treasurer
drobinson@mijustice.org

My goal as a mother of African American children was to guide my kids on a path that avoided the criminal justice system altogether. Being born and raised in the City of Detroit, I was all too aware of the systemic and social disparages experienced by people of color. We teach our children at an earlier age the potential of injustices just because of the color of their skin. While I was aware of the socioeconomic disadvantages for minorities and the increased potential and downside of being unjustly or justly arrested, charged, or even sentenced in the State of Michigan, I was not prepared for the reality of the Michigan Department of Corrections. Prison life was not a reality for me until recently being personally impacted by the imprisonment of a loved one. There are so many areas in our Corrections system in need of improvement from the locations and living conditions of prisons, financial and emotional impact to families, to the lack of mental and rehabilitation services to address underlying conditions which contributes to the root causes of deviant behaviors. I joined Michigan Justice Advocacy to help shed light on the need to incentivize and encourage positive confinement by providing incentives, educational opportunities, rehabilitative services, and goals oriented to provide our incarcerated population with a hope and a future! I believe restoring a credit system to reduce time off a given sentence is one of the best ways to motivate and encourage positive reform… GOOD TIME MAKES GOOD SENSE!
“To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison.”

Courtney Turturice, Secretary
courtney@mijustice.org

Courtney is new to Michigan Justice Advocacy but has a passion for creating a better world, which includes standing up for those incarcerated without a voice. Courtney firmly believes there is a serious need for criminal justice reform. By joining MJA, Courtney hopes to instill equality and faith in the broken society. Social injustice occurs daily. Unless you are directly impacted, you may not realize it to be a large-scale issue (across the nation.) Mass incarceration, inhumane treatment (especially towards minorities,) and lack of truth in sentencing are a few areas Courtney hopes to make a positive difference, here in Michigan. Courtney is committed to making a difference in the lives of others through compassion, guidance, and dedication. Coming together, we can change lives!

Mary Cusack, Member at Large
mary.cusack@mijustice.org

After 20 years as a community college administrator, I stepped down from my role as an academic dean to focus on initiatives that increase social justice through educational opportunities. This became my passion after I began coordinating the Second Chance Pell program, which allows incarcerated students at the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer to pursue associate degrees through Mott Community College. Working with these students changed the trajectory of my career, as it showed me how I could best contribute to creating true social change. The students’ appreciation for the opportunity to change their lives by earning a degree and their passion for learning convinced me that providing educational opportunities to people who have been marginalized is one of the most effective ways of restoring social justice and closing the equity gap. I continue my work with the Second Chance Pell Program as a consultant and work on other similar initiatives. Restoring Good Time to Michigan is one of those critical initiatives, and I am thrilled to be a part of MJA’s work.

Ryan Heckman, Member at Large
mheckman@mijustice.org

Ryan R. Heckman (R) is a life-long Michigander. Mr. Heckman has spent nearly thirty (30) years in the financial services industry, both in Institutional and Private Markets. Additionally, Heckman has taught principles in business, finance, real estate and capital markets at his alma mater, Northwood University. Heckman was elected to the Michigan Justice Advocacy Board in 2021 and serves as Finance Director. Heckman is passionate about criminal justice reformations that; in addition to the human element, look toward the economic impact(s) to business & commerce, and communities and society at large. Ryan also serves on the Scholarship Committee for the Midland Community Foundation, is a primary member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish of Pigeon/Caseville, regularly attends St. Brigid Catholic Church in Midland, and is a regular volunteer for various Cancer centric organizations. Heckman holds an MBA from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan; and a BBA and AA from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. Currently, Heckman resides in Pigeon and Midland, Michigan.

Brandi McMahon, Member at Large
brandi.mcmahon@mijustice.org

I am currently a psychology and criminal justice student working towards my goal of becoming a correctional behavioral specialist to help incarcerated citizens return to society. My husband has spent over a decade incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, so I’ve spent several years focusing on California laws and legislature and I realized it was important to bring my knowledge to my home state. I joined Michigan Justice Advocacy because I genuinely support the work we are doing, and I fully believe in the direction and vision of this group. I’m passionate about resentencing, re-entry, and anything that makes our loved ones lives just a little brighter. Here’s to Good Time!

Brenda Thomas, Member at Large
brenda.thomas@mijustice.org

While I have always known that our criminal justice system had problems, it wasn’t until my son was wrongfully incarcerated that I realized just how bad it was. From that point on I knew that I had to do everything I could to help not only him, but also the thousands of other individuals who had been unfairly treated by the system. Today it is my son who is sitting behind bars, but tomorrow it could be yours.