April Somboun is the Education Research and Innovation Officer at the Airbel Impact Lab within the education Global Research and Innovation Priorities (GRIP) vertical. She contributes to the GRIP’s strategy, business development, and oversees the budget. In her role, she collaborates with global partners, the IRC country teams and educational technical unit overseeing project implementation for aprendIA, an AI-driven chatbot. Her goal is to ensure that quality and sustainable education solutions reach last-mile teachers, children, and caregivers.

April's career has centered on fostering meaningful partnerships in both the non-profit and corporate sectors, particularly within the realm of education. She has implemented in-school programs and marketing campaigns that benefit educators, children, and families, with a focus on economic mobility, financial literacy, and health. Prior to joining Airbel, she contributed to the IRC’s Afghan Priority 2 team and managed teams and large-scale projects for organizations such as Scholastic and the Council for Economic Education.

She holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and a Bachelor’s from the University of Washington. April is a board member of both the Laotian American National Alliance and the Brooklyn Book Bodega. She resides in New York City.