Her work focuses on the planning and implementation of new urbanism in public housing redevelopment and how planners can work more effectively to design and build sustainable mixed income communities that meet the needs of low income families. April’s research interests include mixed-income development, plan implementation, culturally competent pedagogy, and new urbanism as a tool to revitalize communities. Prior to her faculty position she worked as an architect and urban designer on public housing redevelopment projects, neighborhood revitalization plans, and new urbanist communities in the U.S., China, and the Middle East.