This is the second of a five-part series. Part One is here and Part Two is here.
Derek Gebhard
Derek Gebhard is a forward and midfielder for Forward Madison, the city’s professional soccer team. He is the club’s all-time leader in appearances (158) and goals (29). The 2026 season will be his sixth with the team. His first Forward Madison goal remains one of the most iconic in the team’s history – a last-minute winner against North Carolina in the first game back at Breese Stevens Field after the pandemic. Born in Maine, Gebhard played one season with Florida Gulf Coast University before going pro with the Jacksonville Armada in 2015. He joined Forward Madison in 2021 after stints with El Paso Locomotive, Charlotte Independence and OKC Energy.
Dora Drake
Dora Drake represents Milwaukee’s north suburbs in the Wisconsin State Senate. She won a special election in July 2024 to replace Lena Taylor, who was appointed as a circuit court judge. Drake then won a full term in November 2024. Prior to joining the Senate, she served two terms in the State Assembly. Before jumping into elected service, she was employed by the Center for Self Sufficiency, which assists formerly incarcerated people with family support and reentry services, and JusticePoint, a nonprofit organization promoting reforms to the criminal justice system and supporting people through their interactions with the justice system. She is an alumna of Marquette University with a degree in social welfare and justice.
Corey Whitmore
Corey Whitmore is an entrepreneur, educator, and audio engineer who has spent more than 17 years using music and media to create opportunities for young people and artists in Wisconsin. He is the founder and owner of Media 22, a Madison-based media company that operates a music studio and two audio and video podcast studios specializing in recording, mixing, podcast production, content distribution, and live streaming. Through Media 22, he has supported more than 20 local podcast projects, including past series Black Currency and Pick Up The Mic, which focused on financial literacy and the academic achievement gap. He has taught audio engineering, beatmaking, podcasting, and multimedia to grade school and high school students at the UW–Madison Summer Music Clinic and through Media Academy summer programs. In partnership with Madison Public Library, he has led podcast and music production classes in the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center, Dane County Juvenile Shelter, and the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Restore program for students facing expulsion. He previously served as teen programs coordinator at the Greater Milwaukee Boys & Girls Club and has coached grade school, AAU (15U and 17U), and high school basketball in the Madison area. His career began as owner and CEO of Duce Duce Entertainment, an independent record label in Milwaukee. He has served as musician-in-residence with Make Music Madison; board member, Mad Lit stage manager, and Level Up Conference coordinator with the Urban Community Arts Network; station manager at WWMV-LP 95.5 FM; and radio host on 103.5 FM The Sun. He holds degrees in Broadcasting and Electronic Communications from Marquette University and in Recording and Music Technology from Madison Media Institute.
Dr. Michelle Robinson
Dr. Michelle Robinson is the chief programs and partnerships officer for the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. She previously served as the inaugural director of the Office of Health Equity at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, where she established the agency’s health equity vision and guided policy and program initiatives related to workforce planning, equity, inclusion, and internal and external health equity efforts. Before joining DHS, Robinson was director of the Office of the Inspector General at the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and served as the agency’s Equity and Systems Change Research and Policy Officer. In those roles, she oversaw strategic equity initiatives, created an internal review team, and established the department’s Enterprise Risk Management program. She also served as vice chair of the Governor’s Health Equity Council and was the primary author of its statewide report, Building a Better Wisconsin. Earlier in her career, Robinson worked with the Race to Equity Project at Kids Forward, contributing research, policy analysis, and community engagement related to racial disparities. Her recognitions include awards from Church Women United, the Progress Center for Black Women, the Urban League of Greater Madison, the State Council on Affirmative Action, and UW–Madison’s Outstanding Women of Color in Education honor. Robinson holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a B.A. in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin.
Torsie Judkins
Torsie Judkins is the Head of School at Wingra School in Madison, where his leadership centers on fostering community and belonging, and on creating a school environment where every child feels seen, supported, and able to thrive. Originally from North Carolina, Judkins has served in a variety of leadership roles at independent schools in North Carolina, the New York City area, and Pennsylvania before moving to Madison in 2023 to lead Wingra. Judkins also serves on multiple nonprofit boards and is an active member of the broader educational community. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from North Carolina Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville University. He is pursuing his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Manhattanville University, where his research examines the academic and social experiences of African American students in independent schools, drawing on his own journey and his commitment to creating more equitable, supportive environments for students of color.
Steven Robertson
Steven Robertson is Associate Director of EOP and Pre-College Programs at Marquette University. In that role, he is the project director and principal investigator for Marquette University’s Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math & Science, and Educational Talent Search programs, which provide academic support and college-access services for first-generation and low-income students. A Milwaukee native and graduate of Washington High School, he studied communications at Marquette University and previously worked as a high school administrator. He brings more than 30 years of experience in education, youth development, and nonprofit leadership. In his current role, Robertson oversees pre-college programming focused on advising, mentoring, and enrichment designed to prepare students for postsecondary success, and he has built numerous partnerships across educational and community organizations to expand opportunities for young people. He also regularly shares insights on leadership, student success, and educational equity through professional networks and community engagement.
Part Four coming tomorrow!
