ATLANTA — The Georgia Public Defender Council (GPDC), in collaboration with the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, celebrated the graduation of its 2024–2025 Leadership Academy class—highlighting a transformative year of training, growth, and purpose-driven public service.

Building on this success, GPDC announced the continuation of the program with a new class of emerging leaders in 2025–2026.

The GPDC Leadership Academy equips public defenders with the critical leadership, communication, and project management skills needed to advance justice and uphold the agency’s mission. The most recent cohort completed the rigorous, 28-day program spanning one year and culminating in capstone projects that address real-world challenges across Georgia’s indigent defense system.

“The Leadership Academy reflects GPDC’s deep investment in the future of public defense,” said Omotayo Alli, executive director of GPDC. “It is not only a professional development initiative—it is a community of professionals committed to innovation, integrity, and service to the most vulnerable in our justice system.”

Graduates of the 2024–2025 class developed and presented team-based capstone projects focused on areas such as internal mentorship frameworks, reentry and rehabilitation resources, community partnerships for youth in detention, and practice support tools for early-career attorneys. These initiatives are now being reviewed for implementation.

The Leadership Academy was designed and delivered in partnership with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia, a statewide leader in public service education and capacity building.

“Our team is proud to support GPDC’s leadership pipeline,” said Rob Gordon, Director of the Carl Vinson Institute. “This program models what is possible when agencies commit to excellence and growth at every level.”

The 2025–2026 GPDC Leadership Academy will begin this fall.

Georgia’s public defenders are the frontline champions of justice. GPDC’s attorneys passionately defend the rights of low-income community members to ensure they receive high quality representation. Approximately 85% of criminal defendants in the state are defended by the GPDC. Learn more at www.gapubdef.org.