Out Actor Maulik Pancholy Named To White House Commission

He no longer plays the overbearing assistant to 30 Rock's Jack Donaghy, but out actor Maulik Pancholy has a higher office to answer to in real life: The Oval Office.

Pancholy was named to President Obama's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on Friday. According to the White House, Pancholy is active with a number of non-profit and social policy organizations such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the New York City Anti-Violence Project, and the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission. He worked closely with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center on its exhibition, Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation, which opened at the National Museum of Natural History in February 2014.

Most recently, the star of the animated show Sanjay & Craig, got engaged to his partner of more than nine years. Before the big question was popped, Pancholy hinted to Out magazine that matrimony might be in the works.

"I just celebrated my nine-year anniversary with my partner," he said. "It feels like a nice time to be celebrating something like that, especially on the heels of the DOMA and Prop. 8 decisions."