April Edwards Email and Phone Number

I have over 20 years experience working on large scale projects and initiatives involving diverse participants both domestic and global. I am known for building strong teams, developing strategic processes, and giving structure to new or emerging programs. Currently, I am the Assistant Director for Access ASU School Partnerships. Previously k was the Ecosystem Manager for the Mastercard Foundation e-Learning Initiative at ASU’s University Design Institute (UDI). UDI works with ASU and other universities in 23 countries building design solutions to the most pressing challenges higher education institutions are facing today. I joined UDI in 2021 to support the Mastercard Foundation e-Learning Initiative, a global emergency response to COVID-19. The project involved 4 ASU units supporting 10 universities in 8 countries to grow and develop their online programs. Before then, I worked as the Director for Communications for a U.S. Department of Education grant funding ASU teacher preparation in low income and rural communities in Arizona. I also served for 6 years as the Director of Public Events at ASU’s West Campus, working with campus and community leaders to present conferences, fundraisers, graduation ceremonies, and cultural events. Throughout my career I have specialized working on outreach projects designed to build networks and engage new constituents in diverse communities throughout Arizona. Two of these were funded by the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Arts Partners program: The A3 project designed to reach Asian Pacific communities and the Drawing the Lines project designed to reach Native American communities. As part of serving my community, I have served on the board of directors for TERROS Health, a healthcare company and on grant review boards for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and Phoenix Arts Commission. I received my master’s degree from Drexel University and my bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas. In my free time, I am an active visual artist and enjoy time with my family and local community.