Asia Society Texas works with high school and university interns each semester through our Regions Bank Young Leaders Internship program. Under this program, we have partnered with various high schools and universities in the Greater Houston area to provide opportunities for students to engage with the broad swath of programs offered by Asia Society and learn more about nonprofit operations. Interns have worked in program development, research and curriculum-writing, outreach efforts, accounting and finance, and more. Through their time with Asia Society Texas, interns learn more about Asian art, history, and culture while gaining direct experience in a professional environment.

We'd like to shine a spotlight on one of our high school interns, Leon Hoang, from The Post Oak High School, who works with our Education and Outreach department.

Learn a little more about Leon and his internship experience below!

Quick Facts

Name: Leon Hoang
School: The Post Oak High School
Date of internship: 2021-22 academic year
Favorite project you’ve worked on during your internship: My favorite project so far has been the Lunar New Year celebration that I volunteered in. It was amazing to see the community come together to celebrate this annual tradition.
Most interesting thing you’ve learned during your internship: I was pleasantly surprised at the thousands of participants during the New Year event. It’s exciting to see how so many people are interested in Asian heritage and customs.

Reflection

I first started interning at Asia Society due to my interest in working in a professional workspace, as well as in Asian cultures. In my role in the Education & Outreach department, I have used my outreach and research skills to help in any way that I can. So far, that has included projects such as the Education Project’s Onsite Exhibition and the Lunar New Year celebration. I love that my contribution has an effect on these projects, and I am looking forward to assisting in more!

This internship has helped me develop working relationships with my fellow interns and build connections with the staff of Asia Society. It has enabled me to learn how to function in a working environment, which helped in my search for a job. Additionally, the frequent workshops about interview practices and résumé building have assisted me in preparing for colleges and future careers. I have learned so much from this opportunity to intern at Asia Society, and hope I can continue to have a positive impact here.

Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, and United Airlines, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; AARP, Sterling Turner Foundation, and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Education & Outreach; Syamal and Susmita Poddar, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts & Culture; Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Sponsor of the Japan Series; and Regions Bank, Title Sponsor for the internship program. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and Vinson & Elkins LLP, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

Title Sponsor

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.