Asia Society Texas Center Welcomes Jennifer Kapral As New Director Of Education And Outreach

Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC) announces the appointment of Jennifer Kapral as Asia Society's Director of Education and Outreach.

"We're so excited to have Jennifer onboard," says Bonna Kol, Asia Society Texas Center President. "Her background blends nonprofit acumen with a variety of public-school experience, which will be tremendously useful as we create internationally-focused, metrics-based programs which build global citizenship and empathy in school children, as well as offer unique family-focused programming for the community."

ASTC's most recent large-scale family program was its annual Lunar New Year festivities, which welcomed a record 2000 attendees. Families watched dance performances, created Year of the Pig-themed arts and crafts, interacted with Chinese artisans doing live demonstrations, and witnessed the awards ceremony for the first-ever ASTC children's art contest.

Education and outreach activities at ASTC range from singular, annual programs like Lunar New Year to quarterly Family Days at the Museum, movies on the lawn, cooking workshops, Spring Break activities, tai chi classes, and summer Culture Camps for children. Most programs are open to the public while others, like school tours, are arranged through local school districts. Kapral will also be responsible for creating Asia Society's first semi-permanent education exhibition that will launch from ASTC's North Gallery and will span the whole building, utilizing sensory technology to enhance student learning.

A full list of ASTC's Education and Outreach activities for children, families, and adults can be found at www.asiasociety.org/texas/events. Information on this summer's 5 ExploreAsia summer camps can be found at www.asiasociety.org/texas/student-programs.

Jennifer Stephan Kapral is newly appointed Director of Education and Outreach for Asia Society Texas Center. She brings to ASTC a passion for global education and wealth of experience from 15 years as a professional educator, school leader, and project manager. She has held leadership roles with Teach for America, Raise Your Hand Texas, and the Houston Independent School District. Most recently, she served as Dean of Instruction at the Houston Academy for International Studies, where she built and managed a nationally recognized study abroad program. An avid traveler, Jennifer has visited five continents and more than three-dozen countries. Highlights from her travels include leading a student service-learning trip to Pune, India and receiving a Fulbright-Hays award to study curriculum development in Egypt. Jennifer holds a B.A. in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master's in Education from The University of St. Thomas.

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 the rest of the world. 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