Downstate Illinois Innocence Project®

Priyanka Deo
Priyanka is a junior majoring in political science, sociology and anthropology. She has been interning with the Innocence Project since the summer of her freshman year.

Since then, she has undertaken the McMillan case, interviewed witnesses over the phone and in the field, attended court proceedings, assisted with investigations, and examined trial transcripts and physical evidence at the Springfield courthouse. She has appeared in articles regarding the Project in the State Journal Register and the Chicago Tribune while working for the Project.

Priyanka plans to go to law school and specialize in international and human rights law. She recently chaired the United Nations Conference in New York City and was honored out of 364 competing universities from around the world. She is also part of the UIS forensics team and has won a national tournament and placed first in the speaker awards in 2007.

She would like to continue her work with the Innocence Project during the remainder of her undergraduate career and on into law school. She highly encourages other students to get involved because it is a very emotional and rewarding experience, despite the hard work and long hours.