April Armijo

April is a Diné tribal member from Dennehotso, AZ and the Pueblo of Acoma in NM and is Tábąąhá (Water’s Edge Clan) born for the Kəətsi (Antelope Clan) and is currently living in Dayton, Ohio. April has served the technology and digital space in a multitude of ways including IT and data management, digital literacy and engagement, online curriculum design, graphic design, and helped grow a federal contracting IT startup to a multi-million dollar business.

As the Director of Digital Media and Communications for AISES, April develops and deploys digital communication strategies to engage new audiences, national and international members, partners, the public, and other constituencies. She oversees all digital communications processes and tools including social media platforms, the AISES website, and digital assets.

April has a profound love and appreciation for the work of AISES as her interest into technology began with technology-sponsored curriculum funded by the Gates Foundation and her integration into technology was further fostered by an AISES high school club at the Santa Fe Indian School. These early touch points mitigated most of the risks that Indigenous youth, especially girls and women, face within STEM fields and empowered her to focus her education within technology. She holds AS degrees in computer technology and web mastery, a BS in information and communication technology, and MA in education with an emphasis in learning technologies from New Mexico State University. April focused her graduate program research on the systemic challenges of minorities in STEM.

Fueled by her education and the challenges she observes and experiences within the tech industry, April is continually driven to emphasize and disrupt harmful patterns of power and empower systemically excluded groups in utilizing STEM and entrepreneurship as a catalyst for generational wealth. She is grateful for the kindling that education and the AISES community provided her and is dedicated to serving her Indigenous communities in the same manner. April is a NASA Solar System Ambassador focused on bringing the wonders of space to Indigenous reservations. In her free time, you will find her sharing her love of reading, travel, and hiking with her two daughters, and harnessing her creativity to amplify Indigenous businesses, advocates, and mentors through her digital platform, Ambitious Ancestors.