Network Support Unit

Cait Murray joined the Innocence Project as manager of Network stakeholder engagement in January 2020. In this role, she works to strengthen the 68 organizations that comprise the Innocence Network by planning and executing high-quality events, facilitating priority partnerships, and ensuring effective stakeholder communication. Prior to joining the Innocence Project, she worked in education, social services, community organizing, and policy advocacy. She earned a B.A. in English and Hispanic studies from Boston College in 2011 and concurrent graduate degrees in social work (M.S.W.) and public administration (M.P.A.) from Columbia University in 2019. She is passionate about criminal justice reform and is thrilled to support Innocence Network organizations in their mission to exonerate the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.

Meredith Kennedy joined the Innocence Project as director of the Innocence Network in 2012. She provides the nearly 70 Network member organizations with coaching on various aspects of nonprofit management and organizational development, and works closely with the Network Executive Board and its committees. Previously, she managed 80 chapters of the US Green Building Council and served as the PlaNYC Coordinator for the City of New York and as the Special Projects Manager at Friends of the High Line, where she was responsible for community outreach and public programming for the park. Meredith earned her B.A. from the University of Central Florida and her M.S. in urban affairs from Hunter College. She also holds the C.V.A, a professional credential in volunteer management.

Prama Verma joined the Network Support Unit as manager of development & network capacity building in 2023. In this role, she provides fundraising support to the 70+ organizations that make up the Innocence Network on strategy, facilitates working groups and discussions, and creates templates and resources. She has worked in nonprofit fundraising and communications for over seven years, most recently with the Center for Justice Innovation, and is thrilled to continue to contribute to work that is advancing criminal legal reform. She holds a B.A. in political science and economics from Rutgers University.

As the Network coordinator, Shirley administers Innocence Network membership, serves as a liaison to the Network Executive Board, assists the Networks’ committees and working groups, and supports the planning and implementation of the Network Conference.

Prior to joining the Network Support Unit in September 2021, Shirley planned events and coordinated pro bono projects at the Public Interest Law Center at the NYU School of Law. She is a proud graduate of Hunter College High School and holds a B.A. in government from Wesleyan University as well as an M.A. in politics from NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science. Her studies focused on reconstruction and restorative justice in the aftermath of genocide and ethnic violence, and she brings her passion for human rights to the fight to right the wrongs and prevent future abuses of the criminal legal system.

Shirley loves theatre, live music, and travel and spends most of her time baking, reading, and wandering.

Vanessa joined the Innocence Project in 2023 as assistant director of organizational development. She provides high-level, customized facilitation services and assists individual Network members and the Network at large with the creation of strategies to grow their organizations to become stronger, impactful, and equitable. Previously, Vanessa worked with diverse international organizations, including the International Rescue Committee, USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives, and the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, specializing in supporting U.S.-based and international civic organizations and groups to effectively communicate their mission, expand their outreach, and apply critical organizational standards that support the goals of human rights, nonviolence, and justice. Vanessa holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the NY Institute of Technology. She’s a native of the Bronx and likes to spend her time assisting others to make their home (or apartment) beautiful and functional. She’s a dedicated yoga practitioner and loves nature and neighborhood walks.