Ilana Somasunderam
About Ilana Somasunderam
Ilana Somasunderam is a Design Program Manager at Adobe, specializing in professional development for adult learners. With over a decade of experience, she has a strong background in education and community initiatives focused on equity and justice.
Current Role at Adobe
Ilana Somasunderam serves as a Design Program Manager for the Learn team at Adobe since 2021. In this role, she focuses on designing and implementing professional development experiences tailored for adult learners. Her work leverages research-based methods and best practices to enhance learning outcomes. Based in San Francisco, California, she contributes to Adobe's commitment to innovation in design and education.
Previous Experience in Education
Before joining Adobe, Ilana Somasunderam held several educational roles. She worked as a school leadership resident and new school creation fellow at High Tech High in San Diego from 2018 to 2019. Additionally, she served as a summer bridge mentor teacher at San Francisco University High School in 2013. Her experience includes coordinating campus campaigns for Teach for America from 2007 to 2009, where she developed skills in educational leadership and community engagement.
Education and Qualifications
Ilana Somasunderam earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University in the City of New York, studying from 2006 to 2009. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Education from the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, completing her studies from 2018 to 2019. Her academic background supports her expertise in designing effective learning experiences.
Skills and Expertise
Ilana possesses over a decade of experience in designing professional development programs for adult learners. She has managed teams of up to 16 individuals, utilizing a coaching and assets-based approach focused on staff development. Her skill set includes proficiency in video, audio, and graphic production, which she applies in creating engaging learning experiences and instructing others in media production.
Community Involvement and Interests
Ilana Somasunderam is actively involved in initiatives that uplift marginalized communities, promoting equity and justice through various capacities. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys hiking, bagel-baking, stargazing, watercolor painting, and engaging with live music, both in making and listening.