University of Houston-Victoria graduate student Pravina Halim, right, works with Campaign Director Kris Barry and Executive Director David Mohlman of the United Way of Baytown Area.

Though Jakarta, Indonesia, is half a world away from the Crossroads, University of Houston-Victoria graduate student Pravina Halim is spreading global good will by helping out an area charity.

Halim, who is working toward her Master of Business Administration, is assisting the United Way of Baytown Area with help from a Bob Tintsman Fellowship.

�It has been a good experience so far,� Halim said. �I represent United Way and communicate with all the donors and companies that give money to all of the agencies under the UW umbrella.�

Halim already has been out in the community introducing herself and the agency to prospective donors.

And the Jakarta native brings business experience to the Coastal Bend as well, having worked for three years at UPS Inc.�s Indonesian headquarters. She commutes to Baytown from Houston three to four days each week.

Halim chose UHV because of its good reputation for business training and also because of its affordability, she said. She received the job tip from UHV�s Career Services office.

For her supervisors, Halim brings a fresh face and enthusiasm.

�Our United Way hosted the very first Bob Tintsman fellow last spring, and we were very pleased with how that turned out,� said David Mohlman, United Way of Baytown Area executive director. �We are excited to get the opportunity to host another and to have Pravina here. This is an opportunity for her to expand her skills.�

Mohlman said Halim will help the agency more closely monitor its accounts receivable and do work to help establish United Way campaigns in workplaces where they do not exist.

Once her MBA is completed, Halim may continue her studies or return to Indonesia to work for a global company with a presence there. In only her second semester, she has time to look forward and get more familiar with Texas.

The fellowship is a United Ways of Texas honor named after Bob Tinstman, who gave a lifetime of service to his community, country and the United Way.