Melissa Giggenbach, Program Director
Melissa joined the West Virginia Innocence Project as an adjunct lecturer in Fall 2013. Originally from Roanoke, West Virginia, she graduated from Sweet Briar College in Virginia in 1996. After earning her J.D. from W.Va. College of Law in 1999, she practiced law in Morgantown before joining the staff of the Preston County Public Defender Services in Kingwood, WV. In 2002, she opened her own office with a focus on post-conviction work. On July 1, 2018, Melissa joined WVIP as program coordinator and staff attorney. On July 1, 2019, she became the full-time program director. Her work at WVIP consists of running the clinic, supervising and advising third year law students, and appearing in court, with and without students, to fight for the freedom of wrongfully convicted clients.
Devon Unger, Staff Attorney
A 2015 WVU Law graduate, Devon is the Staff Attorney for the WVIP. He was formerly an assistant public defender with the Public Defender Corporation for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Unger also previously practiced criminal defense at MillsMcDermott Criminal Law Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and worked as a legal research and writing fellow for the Due Process Institute in Washington, D.C. When he is not practicing law, Devon enjoys outdoors activities, trying new foods and varieties of beer, and taking care of his dogs.
Kait Akers
Kait is a third-year law student from Mount Carbon, West Virginia. She received a bachelor’s of science degree in Psychology with minors in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies from WVU in 2018. Before law school, she worked as a paralegal for Legal Aid of West Virginia’s Lawyer in the School Program. In addition to WVIP, Kait is the Editor-in-Chief of the West Virginia Law Review, a peer writing consultant in the WVU Law Writing Center, a member of the Ethics Counsel, and a student ambassador for WVU Law Admissions. During her summers, she clerked for Judge Irene Keeley in the Northern District of West Virginia and worked for the Kanawha County Public Defender’s Office. After graduation in May 2022, she hopes to work as a public defender in southern West Virginia.
Ginny Blake
Ginny is a third-year law student from Huntington, West Virginia. She received a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Marshall University in 2018. She spent the summer of 2018 as a legislative intern and then spent the rest of her gap year working at Foundation for the Tri-State Community as an administrative assistant. She worked at the West Virginia Public Service Commission in both the Legal and General Counsel divisions during the summer of 2020. Throughout her 2L year, Ginny worked in the West Virginia University Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a graduate assistant in the Office of Equity. Most recently, Ginny worked this past summer in the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Ohio’s Capital Habeas Unit as a “CHU-tern.” In addition to being a student attorney for WVIP, Ginny is the Vice President of the Marylin E. Lugar Trial Association and a member of Public Interest Advocates and Women’s Leadership Council. Upon graduating law school in May 2022, Ginny hopes to pursue a career in public defense.
Katie Gigel
Katie is a first-generation law student from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. She received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from VCU where she cultivated her passion for criminal defense work. In the summer of 2021, she worked for the Charlottesville Public Defender’s office and decided to apply for the West Virginia Innocence Project upon her return to WVU Law. Alongside working for her clients in the clinic, Katie also enjoys serving as the Community Service Chair for the Student Bar Association. After graduation, Katie hopes to secure a job as a public defender in her home state of Virginia.
Eric Lasky
Eric is a third-year law student from Rockland County, NY. He received a bachelor’s of science degree in Forensic and Investigative Science from West Virginia University in 2019. He has worked as an intern with the District Attorney's office in Rockland County in 2020 and interned under a judge in the same courthouse in 2021. Eric plans to pursue a career in criminal law and fight for justice in the legal system.
Emma Pearman
Emma is a third-year dual degree student from Roanoke, Virginia. In addition to pursuing her J.D., she is in the Master of Public Administration program at WVU. She received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Radford University in 2019. Emma spent the summer following her 1L year as an intern in U.S. District Court Judge Keeley's chambers and the summer following her 2L year with the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of West Virginia. She has also interned with WVU's Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Department of Justice's Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division. Emma hopes to pursue a career in public service and advocacy following law school.
Hannah Tate
Hannah is originally from Charleston, WV. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in sociology in May of 2019 from West Virginia University. She is an alumna of Alpha Xi Delta’s Iota chapter at WVU. Hannah is now a third-year law student at WVU Law. In her free time, she works with a local, nonprofit, childcare facility in Morgantown as an assistant director. She oversees various activities while in this role including record keeping, contract review, and writing/applying for various grants. After graduation from WVU Law in May 2022, Hannah hopes to continue to have the privilege of serving the people of West Virginia by pursuing a career in civil rights or innocence work.
Undergraduate Interns:
Raeanne Beckner
Raeanne is a junior from Bridgeport, West Virginia. She joined WVIP as its social media intern in the Fall of 2021. She is pursuing dual degrees in Journalism and Multidisciplinary Studies with minors in Political Science, Leadership Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies. She is the Managing Editor at the Daily Athenaeum, a Student Ambassador for the Reed College of Media, an Honors College Ambassador and Peer Mentor, a Teaching Assistant for Media Law and Ethics, a New Student Orientation Leader, a Milan Puskar Scholar, has contributed. factchecking to PolitiFact, and serves as the Sisterhood Advisor for WVU's chapter of Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority. After completing her undergraduate degree, Raeanne plans to pursue law school and continue to help others.
Giana Loretta
Giana is a junior from Shinnston, WV. She is pursuing three majors: Political Science, Philosophy, and Communication Studies. Giana has interned for WVIP since Fall 2020, and her experiences have fueled her passion for social justice and equity. In addition, she is also a research assistant for the Political Science department, a Presidential Student Ambassador, a member of the Honors College, and the community service chair of Chimes (WVU’s junior honor society). After the completion of her undergraduate studies, Giana aspires to attend law school and pursue a legal career focused on improving education policy and expanding academic accessibility.
Nikita Patel
Nikita is a junior from Charleston, West Virginia who joined the WVIP in Fall of 2021. She is currently majoring in Forensic Biology and minoring in Criminology and Political Science. During her sophomore year she was an Honors Mentor for the WVU Honors Mentoring Program where she worked with a diverse group of students to better integrate them into the honors community. After graduating, Nikita hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in criminal law as well as continuing work towards criminal justice reform.
Sarah Ihlenfeld
Sarah, a senior from Wheeling, WV, joined the WVIP in the fall of 2019. She is pursuing two degrees in Economics and International Studies. Sarah is involved in Economics and Political Science research at the University, studying American national security and foreign policy after 9/11 and human capital investments. She has served two terms as a Senator in the Student Government Association, where she sat on the Inclusion and Health committees. Sarah has also worked with the Bureau of Business and Economics Research at WVU, the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, and completed an internship with Senator Joe Manchin. She is passionate about advocacy work in West Virginia, particularly addressing structural economic inequality, criminal justice reform, and discriminatory policies. She hopes to attend law school and receive a joint masters degree in Economics to pursue a career in public policy and advocacy.
Desirae Satterlee
Desirae, a senior from Shepherdstown, WV, will be completing an undergraduate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies with minors in Political Science, Public Relations, and Spanish. Her interest in public service and a future as an attorney encouraged her to join the Innocence Project. After graduating in May, Desirae hopes to attend Law School in Washington D.C. and specialize in public interest law. Outside of the WVIP, Desirae enjoys spending time with friends and snowboarding in the winter.