The Education and Outreach team at Asia Society Texas Center works with university interns each semester. Through our internship program, students directly engage with curriculum-writing, program development, and outreach efforts. Interns learn more about Asian art, history, and culture while gaining direct experience in working with students and families.

This month, we're shining a spotlight on one of our fall 2020 interns, Pranav Rao. Pranav brings to the Asia Society team a passion and depth-of-knowledge for Indian culture, having recently spent a year in India on a Boren Scholarship. He plans to share this excitement with teens through a new Asia Society after-school club, The Arts and Culture of India. As a senior at the University of Houston, Pranav is preparing for a career in global relations.

Learn a little more about Pranav and his internship below!

Pranav Rao

As someone who is a political science major, some of my major interests lies within the area of international relations. Another dimension of that also plays a crucial role is international and cultural education. During the junior year of my undergraduate degree, I had the opportunity to spend seven months in India participating in intense language and cultural education while on a Boren Scholarship. That opened to my mind to the immense importance of bridging cultures, especially for the younger generation which includes myself.

One of the things that drew me to intern at the Asia Society was its incredible focus and commitment to international and cultural education. And, interning at the Asia Society has provided me an opportunity to take some of the things I learned while abroad and bring it back to my local community. During my time at the Asia Society thus far, we have worked to develop a curriculum for the Indian Arts and Cultures club. I’m incredibly excited that we will be beginning that club very soon. Through this, I hope that I will be able equip participants with a clearer understanding of India and prepare them for potential further study of India in the future, at university or otherwise.

As for my future aspirations, since my sophomore year of university, I have held an active interest in pursuing a career with the foreign service. Public service is a personal value I hold as an individual and as an American citizen. So, the foreign service is something that I feel intersects all my personal and academic interests. I hope that by interning at the Asia Society I can contribute positively to the overall mission of the organization and, equally, be a good learner as well.

Major support for Education & Outreach programs at Asia Society Texas Center comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as The Brown Foundation, Inc., and The Houston Endowment. Additional funding is also provided by the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation, as well as through contributions from the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals committed to bringing exceptional programming and exhibitions to Asia Society Texas Center. 

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.