Operations

Cristian is a native of Queens, New York. A bilingual Afro-Pana-American Latino, he previously worked as a receptionist at medical, dental, and law offices. In his free time, he likes to read and spend time at the Chess Forum.

Jamillah brings over two decades of leadership in operations, project management, and executive administration to her role as director of operations at the Innocence Project.
Most recently, she spent seven years at a college and career access non-profit, where she was instrumental in developing and streamlining organization-wide policies and processes. These systems promoted efficient daily operations and ensured that stakeholder efforts aligned with the organization’s core values and goals. Additionally, she championed initiatives focused on staff well-being and their sense of belonging within the organization.

Prior to that, Jamillah co-founded and managed a full-service event management and production company that primarily served nonprofits dedicated to social justice. Her work included collaborations with organizations focused on criminal legal reform and housing for vulnerable populations.

She has also provided extensive executive administrative support to numerous nonprofit organizations, and worked with the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to execute large scale projects funded by the World Bank and the European Development Fund. These projects created major improvements in the country’s health, education, and rural development sectors.

Jamillah holds a B.A. in Sociology from Manhattanville University and an M.Sc. in Project Management from Lancaster University in the U.K.

Jeffrey Johnson joined the IP in September 2007 as the office manager. Prior to that, he worked for corporate companies in accounting, banking, and asset management. Born and raised in New York City, Jeff enjoys basketball, fishing, and traveling. He looks forward to assisting those who are part of this extraordinary staff in helping to exonerate innocent people.

Shoshanah joined the Innocence Project in August 2012. In her role as manager of workplace operations and events, she works with various departments in the organization including operations, Network Support Unit, and data science and research. Since 2015, she has helped plan the annual Innocence Network Conference, the major annual gathering of hundreds of people who have been exonerated and attorneys and advocates working on wrongful conviction. Shoshanah also coordinates in-house staff events for the Innocence Project and serves as the liaison to the Exoneree Advisory Council, a group of exonerated people who advise the organization on policy and outreach based on their experience. Shoshanah is a sought-out resource and mentor on event planning and organizational information for both staff and former clients. Before 2012, she followed in her grandmother and mothers’ footsteps and became a teacher, working in early childhood education as a preschool teacher and assistant director. When she is not planning an event for the Innocence Project, she’s probably writing, listening to music, or spending time with her family.