OUR TEAM
Our dedicated staff is here to serve you.
Learn more about their areas of expertise below.
Michelle Zaremba, MPA, Director
In 1999, Michelle became a member of the Dayton Mediation Center team as a Mediation Specialist. and became the organization’s Director in 2009. She is an experienced conflict intervention with expertise as a practitioner, trainer, and consultant. Michelle is a Certified Transformative Mediator ™ and Fellow with the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation, Inc.
Michelle earned a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the Department of Urban Affairs and Geography at Wright State University, Fairborn, OH, and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Conflict Management from Kent State University, Kent, OH.
Cherise D. Hairston, MA/ABD
Cherise began her career with the Center in 1996 as an intern and in 1999 joined the staff as a Mediation Specialist. With over two decades of professional and academic expertise, Cherise provides a range of conflict intervention services specializing in workplace and team building intervention, conflict coaching for individuals, and training. Cherise is the Center’s Volunteer Coordinator and also provides mediation and dialogue process facilitation.
Cherise is a Certified Transformative Mediator™ and Fellow with Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation, Inc. She completed doctoral level studies at Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. She also earned a Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution from the Department of Conflict Resolution at Antioch University McGregor, Yellow Springs, OH, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Women’s Studies from Miami University, Oxford, OH.
Aaron Primm, BA
Aaron began his career with the Center in 2013 as a Volunteer Mediator and joined the staff as Mediation Specialist in 2014. He is Acting Coordinator of the Mediation Response Unit. He has served in multiple capacities within the Mediation Center, including managing the Landlord- Tenant program, training community members in Responding to Conflict and responding with the MRU. Aaron attended Fisk University and he is a Certified Transformative Mediator.
Cheryl Alderman
Cheryl began her career with the Center as a Volunteer Mediator in 2011 and joined the staff as a Mediation Specialist Contractor in 2014. Cheryl is a conflict intervention practitioner whose professional conflict experience includes mediation preparation case management, mediation, facilitation, and serving as coach/trainer for volunteers. Cheryl works with mediation cases that involve neighbor disputes, family relationships, workplace difficulties and other conflicts that come to the center based on referrals from the police department, neighborhood associations and general public requests for help.
Janet Mueller
Janet joined the Center as an intern in 1995 and was hired in 1997. Janet has worked on many projects in her time at the Center including the Police Mediation Project, the Municipal Mediation Project, Mediation Trainer and the Police Complaint Support Program. In addition, Janet works as the Coordinator for the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation Inc, an international think tank organization that supports the growth and development of the transformative approach around the world that is housed at the Mediation Center. Janet is a Certified Transformative Mediator™ and Fellow with the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation, She earned a Masters degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University, and a B.A. from Kent State University.
Nan Paraskevopoulos
Nan manages the Juvenile Court Mediation Program. She began her career at the Mediation Center as a volunteer mediator in 2022 and began working for the organization in 2023. She is a Certified Transformative Mediator™. Nan brings a wealth of experience in victim advocacy and addiction. In her free time, she enjoys playing music, and reading. She is a dual citizen of Greece.
Trisha Werts, BA
Trish began her career with the Center in 2001 as a Volunteer Mediator and joined the staff in 2003. Trish has worn many hats in her years at the Center, including managing the Juvenile Court mediation program, training new volunteer mediators, managing the Parenting time/Visitation mediation program, and responding with the MRU.
Trisha is a Certified Transformative Mediator. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Indiana University East, Richmond, IN.
"The National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) has benefited by the leadership provided by the Dayton Mediation Center both through their individual service on the NAFCM Board and committees, as well as their presence in the greater Dayton community since the creation of NAFCM in 1994."
D.G. Mawn, M.A., J.D.
President
National Association For Community Mediation