STAFF
JORY KNOTT
Executive Director |
KATIE SCOGGIN
Executive Assistant |
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I am a lifelong Alaskan hailing from East Anchorage. After completing an art/music interdisciplinary degree at the University of Alaska-Anchorage, I moved to Oregon. There I composed music & wrote grants for creative projects while apprenticing in stone masonry. I was eventually hired as the operations manager for a masonry company that had 80+ employees, consisting of two stone cutting operations, and 4 rock quarries across the Pacific Northwest.
After the economic crash in 2009 took out the decorative stone business, I moved back to Alaska and changed my career trajectory based on my drive to give back. I taught music and art to adults with special needs while attending UAA, studying legal studies with a minor in civil engagement. These studies led to an internship with Alaska Innocence Project in the fall of 2015. The timing of this internship changed everything. For the first couple months founding Executive Director Bill Oberly entrusted me with helping to manage the office while he was at trial with the Fairbanks Four case. They were exonerated that December. Shortly after his release, George Frese came by the office. We shared a hug and I wept. This hug, the FB4 exoneration, the TJ Edwards case, and Bill’s mentoring set the hook. Innocence work is exactly the kind of work I was hoping to find. I went to law school at the University of Montana while continuing remote work with Bill and volunteering with the Montana Innocence Project. I externed with AKIP for my last year of law school and I have continued working here since my graduation. |
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I am a lifelong Alaskan and grew up in South Anchorage with my parents and four older sisters. I graduated as Salutatorian from Steller Secondary School and went on to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage where I am currently studying for a B.A. in Political Science with minors in legal studies and Spanish. After graduating, I hope to attend law school to continue my education of American jurisprudence.
Outside of being a student, I also find myself interested in local politics and promoting civic engagement. Before coming to work at AKIP in May 2023, I worked as a campaign manager for State House Representative Alyse Galvin. My passion for politics is driven by the enduring power of policy and legislation to enact meaningful change and achieve social justice. I am a dedicated advocate and supporter of ensuring that we elect progressive leaders who have a genuine commitment to shaping a just and equitable society that addresses our fundamentally flawed legal system. Since working at AKIP in May 2023, I have learned so much about Alaska's criminal justice system--the good, the bad, and the ugly. While I have always been aware of the prevalence and severity of wrongful convictions, my exposure to the miscarriages of justice from being on the inside has been an eye-opening experience. I will carry the skills, knowledge, and most importantly, the stories, with me for the rest of my career and life. |
BILL OBERLY
Founding Executive Director, Emeritus
VOLUNTEERS
Meet our team of dedicated volunteers who are deeply committed to the Project and our mission.
Rebecca Cornelius |
Suzy Hambach
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Montana Murphy |
Sarah Murtada |
Connie Quinley |
Diane Smith |
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