2022 Annual Community Engagement Showcase

Dr. Poonam Gulati

Executive Director, Impact Learning Office

University of Houston- Downtown

Dr. Poonam Gulati Salhotra received a Ph.D degree in Microbiology and Immunology from Cornell University. She has worked at academic research labs, a biotech company and taught at UHD for 20 years. For the past five years, she has directed the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, which is the hub of community engagement activities at UHD. Dr. Salhotra has always been passionate about engaging students in and out of the classroom and enjoys directing many projects through the center. 

Caroline Smith, MBA

Associate Director, Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning

University of Houston- Downtown

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-m-smith-73a30411/

Caroline Smith earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Master of Business Administration with a concentration on Organizational Leadership at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD). She currenlty serves UHD as the Associate Director for the Center of Community Engagement & Service Learning and as adjunct faculty in the Marilyn Davies College of Business. 

Caroline believes that allowing students to participate in community activities and develop creative solutions to community issues benefits students’ ultimate ability to think critically about the world around them. She has a passion for diversity and inclusion dialogue and social justice. In this effort, she facilitates intensive trainings on diversity and inclusion topics.  Caroline’s passion for growing, learning, and creating is constantly being fueled by further offering her experiences and abilities to serve in countless ways.

Allison Martinez Nolasco

Refugee Cash Assistant Caseworker

Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston - Refugee Services

Allison Martinez Nolasco, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Houston- Downtown. Her passion for service and learning about different cultures led her to work for Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston – Refugee Services as a Refugee Cash Assistance Caseworker where she aids client in achieving financial self-sufficiency. In her free time, she likes to read, and watch shows on Netflix.