Advisory Board
Our advisory board members provide input on upcoming initiatives and cases to provide knowledge and experience so that the Center for Justice and Post-Exoneration Assistance can best achieve its mission and vision.
Advisory Board Members
Eddie Gill
President, CJPA Advisory Board
Eddie Gill was born in New Jersey, then moved to Colorado where he would attend grade school. He went on to earn a basketball scholarship and graduate from Weber State University. Upon the conclusion of his collegiate career, he played 12 years of professional basketball across the globe, including 7 years in the NBA. He eventually would settle in Carmel, IN with his family.
Currently, Mr. Gill is a Personal CFO with Invst. He also is an analyst for the Indiana Pacers in both a television and radio capacity. Eddie has a passion in the social justice space, participating in a variety of initiatives, attempting to invoke change. He continues to be a resource for several youth programs in Central Indiana. Mr. Gill also serves as the Vice President of the Willie T. Donald Exoneration Advisory Coalition.
Ishti Ali, M.D., FACC
M. Ishti Ali M.D., FACC. is a board-certified interventional cardiologist and performs complex coronary and peripheral vascular interventions. He has a passion for treating the underserved and has been doing so since 2006.
He served as a Physician Executive for Community Heart and Vascular from 2016-2019, initially serving as Medical Director of Cardiology then as Product Line Director for Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Vascular Surgery. He has also served on the Willie T. Donald Advisory Board since its inception.
T. Brian Bates
Thomas Brian Bates is a lifelong Oklahoman, husband, father and grandfather. He holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Central Oklahoma. Bates is locally and nationally recognized anti-sex trafficking advocate since 1996.
He has volunteered with No Boundaries International since 2011. In 2009, Bates received a Regional EMMY winner for investigative journalism. He has been a Licensed Private Investigator and agency owner of Bates Investigates since 2009.
Russell W. Brown, Jr.
Russell W. Brown, Jr. is the founder of The Region Lawyers, located in Northwest Indiana. He predominately represents clients who are charged with serious felony offenses in both state and federal court. Additionally, Mr. Brown has successfully represented clients seeking post-conviction relief and/or sentence modifications.
Mr. Brown also has significant experience in criminal appeals. He has successfully written briefs and participated in oral arguments, including arguments in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
When not at the office, Mr. Brown enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends, and coaching his sons’ sports teams.
Bar Admissions
- United States District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
- State Bar of Indiana
- State of Illinois as Bar Admission
Mike D’Andrea
Mike D’Andrea is a veteran speaker and personal appearance agent with United Talent Agency. His first introduction into the nightmare world of the wrongfully convicted came after watching a TV New Magazine profile of MARTY TANKLEFF, while Marty was still fighting for his freedom.
He was haunted by the idea of someone trapped behind bars for something they did not do, but unable to convince the authorities to release them. He became an advocate, first for MARTY and then for other people who have had decades of their lives stolen from them by being wrongfully convicted.
He became painfully aware that the “system” has programs in place to help former prisoners who were convicted properly, but if you are the system’s MISTAKE, you are on your own, left to find your own way back to the world. He is proud to help The Center for Justice and Post-Exoneration Assistance as an advisor and in any way he can.
Farnaz Farjam
Farnaz creates and develops new series for Bunim Murray Productions and oversees creative and logistical needs for all current projects at Bunim Murray.
Prior to her current role, Farnaz produced and oversaw various TV series, including Simple Life, E!’s Total Divas and Total Bellas, as well as the network’s most successful franchise, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. She was also the Executive Producer/Showrunner on E!’s Mariah’s World and many other series for Bunim Murray.
Farnaz is an immigrant from Iran and has been working in TV since 1999.
Amanda Hires
Under the advisement of Nicky Jackson, Amanda C. Hires, Esq. earned her Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University Calumet in 2005. During her remarkable academic career, Attorney Hires worked under the advisement of Judge Shelia Moss in the Lake County Superior Court, Division Two.
Her experience in the courthouse drove her desire to become an advocate for those who often find it difficult to speak for themselves. After graduating from Purdue University Calumet with highest academic distinction, Attorney Hires continued her community advocacy by attending Valparaiso University’s Law School.
During Ms. Hires’ academic career at Valparaiso University, she continued to advocate for underserved communities, including becoming a law clerk for Weiss, Schmidgall & Hires, P.C. in 2008, where she focused on state court trial issues, federal criminal cases, and bankruptcy relief. Attorney Hires traveled to the New Orleans Public Defenders Office for three (3) years during law school in order to gain more experience, including writing and arguing a Habeas Petition as a second-year law student.
Attorney Hires’ dedication to her community continued after her graduation with Cum Laude from Valparaiso University’s Law School in 2010. Following her graduation from law school, she passed the Indiana Bar Exam and became admitted to practice in Indiana, including the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and the Northern District of Illinois. Attorney Hires successful career was recognized as she became the first and only female partner of the Law Office of Weiss, Schmidgall & Hires, P.C. in 2015. Additionally in 2015, she was appointed by the Honorable Nicholas J. Schiralli as a public defender for Lake Superior Court Division One. In 2022, Attorney Hires was recognized for her efforts in advocacy on behalf of the indigent and was appointed Chief Public Defender in 2022. In between her roles at the law office and as the Chief Public Defender for Lake County Division One, Attorney Hires, along with her partner, Attorney Christopher R. Schmidgall represents the Lake County Circuit/Superior Court Clerk’s Office in a multitude of federal and state court matters.
Attorney Hires’ legal career has been marked with many successes. Namely, Attorney Hires was named a Top 40 Attorney Under 40 for three (3) years, has been awarded multiple Top Ten Attorney accomplishments, and was published in the Indiana Lawyer magazine for her knowledge and passion of expungement laws in Indiana. Attorney Hires consistently amazes her clients with her passion and drive to help those who often feel hopeless break down their barriers and empower their future.
Attorney Hires has been married for nine (9) years to her husband, Jacob and has three (3) children: Victoria, Hunter, and Harris. In addition to her professional commitments, Attorney Hires enjoys weekends with her family, often at her children’s extracurricular activities. Attorney Hires takes pride in raising her family in the community she has always called home and for which she continues to serve.
Joseph Hosey
Joseph Hosey is the executive editor of the Times of Northwest Indiana.
Over the course of his career, Hosey covered the cases of Lynwood, Illinois, Police Officer Brian Dorian, who was arrested and wrongly charged with murder in connection with the “honeybee” shootings near the Indiana-Illinois border and Kevin Fox, who was arrested and wrongly charged with the sexual assault and murder of his 3-year-old daughter, Riley Fox.
Hosey also covered the bathtub drowning death of Kathleen Savio, the estranged third wife of Chicago-area police Sgt. Drew Peterson, and the disappearance of Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.
Hosey went on to author the true crime account “Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Sergeant Drew Peterson,” a book that was the basis for the Lifetime movie “Drew Peterson: Untouchable.”
An Illinois judge held Hosey in contempt after he refused to divulge a source of information in a series of stories he wrote on the Nightmare on Hickory Street murders. The judge sentenced Hosey to indefinite jail time and fined him $1,000 and an additional $300 a day for every day he refused to identify his source.
The jail time and fines were stayed pending Hosey’s appeal, which he won.
Hosey was the recipient of the National Press Club’s 2014 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award and was named the 2015 Illinois Journalist of the Year.
Tiffany Kumar
As founder + CEO of LA-based entertainment agency Beat House, Tiffany Kumar’s passion for working with producers and songwriters began when she was a marketing assistant for Kanye West at a time when he was producing for Jay-Z.
In 2009, Tiffany was selected by Diddy to join the cast of MTV’s hit show ‘Making The Band’ as a songwriter herself. Tiffany then served as a senior executive at Primary Wave Music Publishing and at Lady Gaga’s producer RedOne’s publishing company.
In 2016, Tiffany joined Spotify as the Global Head of Songwriter and Producer Relations where she launched the Secret Genius brand. While at Spotify she orchestrated and oversaw award shows honoring Rick Rubin and Quincy Jones, global songwriting camps with the likes Murda Beatz and Boi1da, and the opening of four recording studios.
Beat House is a Los Angeles-based music agency with a joint venture publishing partnership with Pulse Recordings. Beat House clients include multi-platinum producer A1 Bentley (aka Sprngbrk), 2kBaby, viral tik tok producer KyleYouMadeThat, Killboy, Donzell Taggart and Just Stef. In 2022, Beat House celebrated publishing Future and Drake’s song “Wait For You” which peaked at #1 on Billboard’s hot 200 chart. Focuses include music publishing, a record label, and a social justice partnership with Jay-Z, Meek Mill and Robert Kraft’s REFORM Alliance and The Alliance For Safety and Justice.
Lisa Lillien
Lisa Lillien (a.k.a. Hungry Girl) is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and the creator of the Hungry Girl brand. She is the founder of hungry-girl.com, the free daily email service that entertains and informs hungry people everywhere.
A self-proclaimed “mad scientist” in the kitchen, Lisa’s nearly 3 million email subscribers and social media followers eagerly await Hungry Girl’s recipes, food finds, and tips & tricks each weekday. She also reaches millions more with a weekly podcast, Hungry Girl magazine, and recurring appearances on television shows like Good Morning America, The View, and Today.
The author of fifteen bestselling cookbooks, six of which debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list, Lisa has also executive produced and starred in a top-rated cooking show on both Food Network and Cooking Channel.
In addition to her love of food, Lisa is a crime junkie who is passionate about seeking truth and justice for victims and their families. She serves on the Willie T Donald Exoneration Advisory Coalition Board, which is devoted to supporting those who have been, or will be, wrongfully convicted in the state of Indiana.
Matt Murphy
Matt Murphy is an attorney in private practice in Southern California. He was a Senior Deputy District Attorney in Orange County California. Mr. Murphy spent 21 years assigned to the sexual assault and homicide units where he prosecuted some of the most notorious murder cases in the state of California.
He completed 132 jury trials in his career as a prosecutor, including 52 while he was assigned to the homicide unit. He worked as an adjunct professor of law for 7 years. In addition to his work for ABC 20/20, Mr. Murphy also works as a criminal defense lawyer and also does pro bono work on behalf of victims of sexual assault.
Carly Roland
Carly Roland, an award-winning writer/actress, is a Producer at Eleven Northwest, a company founded by her husband Graham Roland in 2021. Mrs. Roland was named one of Hollywood’s up and coming female content creators by Women in Film and her podcast, Marginalized Murder: The Case of the 51 was nominated for a People’s Choice Award in 2022 and highlighted by CBS Chicago. Her past work can be seen on AMC, CBS, NBC and the CW.
In her work and life, Mrs. Roland is a passionate advocate for telling stories involving wrongful convictions and other miscarriages of justice in the hopes of bringing awareness and change. Over the years, she has developed projects and worked with various grassroots organizations and politicians to uncover the ongoing epidemic of criminal injustices around the country.
Yusef Salaam
In 1989, at just fifteen years young, Yusef Salaam was tried and convicted in the “Central Park jogger” case along with four other Black and Latino young men. After almost 7 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit, Yusef’s case was overturned and he was set free.
His life was forever changed by this experience, and since his release he has advocated for criminal justice reform, prison reform and the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment. Yusef has shared his story and stance on these issues on CNN, MSNBC, REVOLT TV, NPR Atlanta, FOX and more. He authored his memoir Better, Not Bitter and is the co-author of Punching the Air.
In 1989, at just fifteen years young, Yusef Salaam was tried and convicted in the “Central Park jogger” case along with four other Black and Latino young men. The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit, until their sentences were overturned in 2002. Since then, they have received a multi-million dollar settlement from the city of New York for its injustice and have been profiled in award-winning films, including The Central Park Five documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon and most recently the Emmy award-winning Netflix limited series When They See Us, written and directed by Ava DuVernay.
Over the past two decades, Yusef has become a family man, father, poet, activist and inspirational speaker. He continues to utilize his platform to share his story with others and educate the public about the impact of mass incarceration and police brutality rooted in our justice system. He regularly advocates for criminal justice reform, prison reform and the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment.
Yusef is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama (2016) and more recently has shared his story and stance on current issues on CNN, MSNBC, REVOLT TV, NPR Atlanta, FOX and more. He authored his memoir Better, Not Bitter and is the co-author of Punching the Air.
Britton Smith
Registration Nation Board Chairman, Britton Smith is the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships for REFORM Alliance, an organization focused on changing criminal justice through transformative probation and parole legislation, led by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Robert Smith, Robert Kraft, Michael Rubin and Meek Mill. Britton Smith is an experienced national campaign and political strategist who specializes in helping organizations and candidates appeal to a more modern and reflective demographic. Affiliated with influential organizations such as FieldWorks and MarchOn, Britton continues to be at the forefront of the battles for equality and social justice.
In 2015, Britton became the National Political Director for his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., organizing their membership of over 170,000 on voter registration projects, civic education efforts and shaping their legislative advocacy agenda. Organizing nationwide, Britton has established a rapport with community leaders and lawmakers alike.
In 2015, Smith was asked to serve as a representative on the White House’s task force on criminal justice reform working with other prominent leaders in the space of criminal justice. In 2016, he was asked to serve with and brief various transition teams for the incoming Presidential Administration.
In 2018, Britton worked closely with community change agents in both Mississippi and Virginia to see criminal justice reform move through the legislatures successfully. He was also influential in lobbying efforts on behalf of the landmark federal legislation “The First Step Act.”
Britton has an outstanding track record of bipartisanship stemming from his career working for federal lawmakers both on Capitol Hill and in their respective states and districts. This experience covers elected officials in Maryland, Ohio, Nevada, Montana, Indiana, Alabama, Virginia and in his home state of Mississippi.
Britton still provides great service to his community by being active in his church, serving as a guest lecturer to his alma mater, Rust College, coaching AAU basketball and educating youth on state and local politics through the American Legion’s Boys State Program. Britton is the Liaison to the Mississippi American Legion’s Boys State Program after serving as the organization’s first African American director in its more than 80-year history.
Matthew Waters
Matthew Waters graduated from Indiana University in 2005 with a B.A. in Telecommunications, Communications and Culture and Psychology. He received a master’s degree in technology education in 2010 from Ball State University. Matthew has been an educator at Chesterton High School since 2005. At Chesterton High School Matthew leads the school’s FM radio station WDSO and serves as the business education department chair. Matthew has assisted in politics and political action for various politicians and groups for over a decade.
Jia Wertz
Jia is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, podcaster and writer who pursues stories that explore wrongful convictions in the name of protecting the social order.
Her award-winning debut film, Conviction, chronicles the vagaries and inconsistencies of the American Criminal Justice system through the story of Jeffrey Deskovic who was wrongfully convicted of rape and murder at the age of seventeen. Conviction saw success on the festival circuit with 17 film festival selections and won awards for Best Picture, Best Cinematography and an Award of Distinction, prior to releasing on Amazon Prime.
She is also a writer for Forbes and the Co-Host of Speaking of Crime, a true crime series investigating mysterious unsolved cases.
Our Team
Nicky Ali Jackson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Timmy Donald
Project Manager
The Willie T. Donald Exoneration Advisory Coalition
The Willie T. Donald Exoneration Advisory Coalition was created to support those who have been, or will be, wrongfully convicted in the state of Indiana.
