The Indiana Public Defender Council (IPDC) is pleased to announce our 2025 Scholarship recipients! Thanks to your generous donations, IPDC is able to support the professional development of exceptional public defenders across the state. This year, the IPDC Board has selected three outstanding recipients: Kayla May, Elizabeth Embler, and Natalie S. Williams.
Kayla May
Kayla provides CHINS, adult, and delinquency public defense services in Vanderburgh County. She has been awarded a $600 Professional Development Scholarship to attend the 2025 Forensic Science & Technology Seminar hosted by NACDL. As a full-time public defender, Kayla strives to provide the level of representation to her clients that she would want to receive if she were in their shoes. She was particularly drawn to the NACDL training because it covers numerous topics relevant to her mixed caseload.
Elizabeth Embler
Elizabeth provides CHINS public defense services in Allen County and has been awarded a $600 Professional Development Scholarship to participate in the Trial Advocacy Skills College hosted by ICLEF. Elizabeth has a "true passion for advocacy" and is eager to develop additional skills in areas such as jury selection that were not covered during her law school education.
Natalie S. Williams
Natalie handles a mixed caseload in Lake County. She has been awarded the prestigious Harriet Bailey-Conn Scholarship, which provides mileage reimbursement, accommodations, and complimentary admission to the Annual Update. Since childhood, Natalie has had a passion for the law. She sees herself not only as an attorney but as an advocate with a calling to encourage everyone she encounters.
