Molly Kelleher

Molly Kelleher is a Research Assistant at the Center for Justice. She primarily conducts research on Project Restore, where she contributes to every stage of the empirical process—from protocol design and data collection to analysis. She serves as the lead interviewer for the research team, providing training and supervision in interviewing best practices. She has experience using the Qualitative Impact Protocol (QuIP) and narrative identity design. Additionally, Molly co-organized the Neuroscience and the Law Conference at Columbia University in March 2026.

Molly is also an experienced and sought after defense investigator. She began her career at The Bronx Defenders where she served as the first Supervising Investigator in the Homicide Practice Group. As such, she managed a high-volume caseload, developed training curricula for new investigators, and advocated for investigative staff within organizational leadership. She currently maintains a freelance defense investigation practice alongside her work with the Center. Molly holds a B.A. in Philosophy summa cum laude from Barnard College and a Postbac in Psychology from Columbia University.