Public Service Award Honoree

April English serves as the Chief Secretary to Governor Maura T. Healey. As Chief Secretary, she oversees the administration's efforts to fill appointments on boards and commissions and throughout the administration. Prior to joining the Governor’s office, Chief Secretary English worked in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office for over 19 years. She began her career in the Attorney General’s office working as an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division. As a civil litigator, Chief Secretary English handled a wide range of cases including matters of telemarketing fraud, telecommunications, lead in children’s toys, debt settlement and credit counseling, false advertising, and mortgage fraud. Eventually, Chief Secretary English transitioned to the Criminal Bureau where she served as Deputy Division Chief and as Director of the Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division/Unit. As a prosecutor in the Criminal Bureau, she investigated and prosecuted those who committed fraud against insurers and against the Commonwealth’s unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation system.

During her last 6 years at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Chief Secretary English served as the Chief of Organization Development & Diversity/Inclusion. In this role, she oversaw the workplace composition and culture across the Office, and helped manage recruitment, professional development, mentoring, diversity, inclusion, retention, and racial justice and equity throughout the work of the office.

Chief Secretary English also worked as a Law Clerk to the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court from 2001-2002. She received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College in 1997 and her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in 2000.