Chang resigned last week from a senior State Department post after an NBC News investigation revealed she made misleading claims about her charity work and qualifications including a fake Time magazine cover with her face on it. Meet The Trump Staffer Caught In A Web Of Resume Lies", "Senior Trump official embellished rsum, had face on fake Time cover", "State Department staffer resigns after allegations she inflated her resume", "Trump names Korean-American woman as USAID assistant administrator", "Singer-Turned-Activist Mina Chang Now Faces the Biggest Challenge of Her Life", "Senior Trump admin official Mina Chang resigns after NBC News report", "Mina Chang falsified resume with UH degree", "How did Mina Chang get a State Department job in the first place? In 2015, her charity received tax exempt status from the IRS, according to public records. The now infamous Time magazine cover. She was appointed to the State Department post in the interim. Minas resume, profiles, and statements have been reviewed by 4 separate bodies, including the FBI and State Department Investigators. For Chang's current job, her most relevant experience would appear to be her time as CEO of a nonprofit called Linking the World. But she had no track record in academia or published research. [19][20], Chang displayed a fake cover of Time magazine to a videotaped January 2017 interview with journalist Mary Sit produced by Houston Community College's show, Global Outlook. She was an ambassador for Linking the World in Seoul, South Korea. Several policies we are currently focused on promoting are the following: - Winning the hearts and minds of those around the world most at risk to becoming victims of violent extremism. This discovery raises questions about her qualifications to work in the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. [5] During this time she did volunteer work in relief efforts, which led to her joining the Korea-based nonprofit "Linking the World". The explosive growth of government regulation and oversight over the last decade demands that Linking the World thinks expansively and creatively when developing and implementing our strategies. Tax filings for her nonprofit show an organization with a budget of less than $300,000, and few staff, despite her statements about the vast scope of her group's work. Our research efforts blend together traditional approaches of a think tank with modern and future-leaning tools of a high-tech business intelligence firm. We do not just provide rhetoric and philosophical thought; in fact, we go light on the philosophy. As an example of the support Akin Gump provides to Linking the World, the firm petitioned the FAA for our Section 333 Exemption, which qualifies us to fly UAVs in domestic airspace in support of disaster operations. But there's no record backing up her claim and a source with knowledge of the matter said she was not part of the "panel," which was a single public roundtable. Since Chang's resignation, former colleagues, social acquaintances and government officials have reached out to NBC News, providing more information that helps explain how Chang made it as far as she did. Research | Development | Advocacy Data-driven humanitarian initiatives in the context of national security. At one of those events he bid on an auction item, which accounts for the donation in its totality," Dailey told NBC News. Despite losing its charitable status, the organization continued to solicit donations on its website. Laura Strickler is a senior investigative producer and reporter for NBC News. But in Chang's numerous public speeches she did not mention the Korean organization, saying instead that she was CEO of an "international relief organization" based out of Dallas that works in 40 countries. [14], In July 2019, Town & Country and The Philippine Star speculated that Chang may become the next United States Ambassador to the Philippines, although that prediction did not come to fruition. Chang cultivated an active social media profile, presenting herself as a globe-trotting humanitarian, and appeared at well-heeled charity dinners in Dallas, including a "Women That Soar" dinner and a Dallas Opera event. But before her humanitarian and government career, she was a singer. In its 2015 tax filing, Linking the World reported that it had no staff overseas and no expenditures abroad of more than $10,000, which one expert said was puzzling given the group's descriptions of its international work. Marocco endorsed her for the job and McCaul wrote her a recommendation letter. [11] The nomination was withdrawn on September 9, 2019. Program Priorities; Pro Bono; Legal Aid Grants; Donate to Legal Aid; Search Website. Tell me about this cover and how it came to be?" "She spent almost two decades building herself out of thin air.". Featured in the issue are notable community leaders such as Police Chief David Brown, NHL athlete Jamie Benn, and Historian Bonnie Jacobs. Chang also failed to mention that her non-profit had its status revoked. Also Read:Douglas Emhoff Wiki, Facts To Know About Kamala Harris Husband. Chang does not cite any undergraduate degree in her biography, but her LinkedIn account mentions the University of the Nations, an unaccredited Christian school with volunteer teachers that says it has 600 locations "on all continents.". "We have operated schools, we have built schools in places like Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Kenya.". If youre looking for what she included in her inflated rsum, our Mina Chang wiki has all the details and more. and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch. Update your Profile ; Education & Credentials. Chang also had a tendency to claim or imply credit for work done by others, former colleagues said. "These jobs aren't a joke there are billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars and the lives of U.S. citizens on the line here.". asks the interviewer, who hosts a YouTube show. She would have been responsible for a budget of more than $1 billion. So, to remove any and all suggestion of inappropriate action, the donation mechanisms have all been completely removed. Linking the World, and specifically Mina Chang attended the meetings on the Hill, to brief about our work, specifically proactive development, and the use of drone technology, you can find the schedule here https://www.linkingtheworld.org/hill-briefings. As some of you will have seen, on November 13, NBC News published an article that questioned our former CEOs character, background and education, alongside the work of Linking the World. Her Instagram account, with 42,000 followers, includes selfies with celebrities and Washington luminaries like former President Bill Clinton, retired Gen. David Petraeus, former Defense Secretary Bob Gates, Karl Rove, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Buzz Aldrin. [2][3], Chang, a Korean-American,[4] claims to be the child of two Salvation Army officers and allegedly spent her childhood in Atlanta. She would have been responsible for a budget of more than $1 billion. Changs nomination to the USAID job, which would have required Senate confirmation, was withdrawn on Sept. 9 without public explanation, after the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations asked her for more documents and details about her nonprofit organization and her work experience. "While Congressman McCaul offered a recommendation letter based on her previous work and advocacy on issues like global fragility and countering violent extremism, it is clear now she was not entirely forthcoming with the State Department and others," said Kaylin Minton, spokesperson for McCaul. She attended Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program, which "has no formal education requirements" and charges applicants $82,000 for a seven-week course. . NBC said no record of her UN work was found. A government contractor, AlliedBarton Security Services, sponsored a fundraising dinner in 2016 for her nonprofit in Dallas, and the keynote speaker was John Melkon, director of civil-military operations at West Point. Before she resigned last week and took it down, her Facebook account had 77,000 followers. I will no longer participate in this grievous misrepresentation, where the truth is discarded for spin. Animals and Pets Anime Art Cars and Motor Vehicles Crafts and DIY Culture, Race, and Ethnicity Ethics and Philosophy Fashion Food and Drink History Hobbies Law Learning and Education Military Movies Music Place Podcasts and Streamers Politics Programming Reading, Writing, and Literature Religion and Spirituality Science Tabletop Games . NBC News was unable to find any record of her or her organization ever testifying before Congress. We take real scenarios based on concrete data to address the root drivers of instability and to effectuate action. Locally, she "became very visible, very quickly," said Susan Posnick, who knew her at the time and hired her for six months to be the face of Posnick's makeup company. According to a wild report from NBC News, State Department deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Conflict and Stability Operations Mina Chang, 35, lied about graduating from Harvard and severely embellished her work experience as the CEO of a nonprofit organization called Linking the World. "Here you are on Time magazine, congratulations! Chang was originally being considered for an even more senior government post in which she would have overseen the U.S. Agency for International Development's work in Asia. One year Bulatao bid on an auction item that resulted in a $5,500 donation to the group, Dailey said. Career officials at the State Department and across the federal government take vetting seriously "because they care about maintaining a high standard for the civil service and the foreign service," Thomas-Greenfield said. Chang's nomination to the USAID job, which would have required Senate confirmation, was withdrawn on Sept. 9 without public explanation, after the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations asked her for more documents and details about her nonprofit organization and her work experience. "They want to see talented people with integrity appointed to senior positions. State Department staffer got job with embellished resume, fake Time magazine cover. I can also confirm that no donations were received / accepted over the notification period. Since this news broke, the Donate button on the site has been turned off and any sign of the fake cover has been taken down. Attending SMU, we will be following up with that institution, as we have pictures of Mina receiving her certificate of completion from the Center of Non Profit Management. We are proud and privileged for Akin's support on a pro-bono basis. While Chang was listed in public records as a "managing member" of another company called "Concinnity Management," she failed to disclose that on a financial disclosure form filed in 2018 to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. I am not the radiant light, the forever hopeful and passionate fighter of those who cant defend themselves. An old profile, published on the parenting website DFWChild,states that she has a degree in international development from the University of Hawaii. She was appointed to the State Department post in the interim. He founded Nuru International. At one point in April 14, 2016, she posted more than 70 Instagram pictures in a single day. For those who know us, for those who have overwhelmed us with your love and support, we thank you. In public remarks in 2015 she said her group worked in 40 countries: "We have in-house K9 search and rescue teams, we have testified in front of hearing committees on Capitol Hill, we've done things like lectured at West Point, brief chiefs of staff at the Pentagon.". The eldest of three daughters born to Salvation Army officers, Chang has Asian roots. When the 2010 Haiti earthquake struck, she decided against renewing her contract with her label and joined Linking the World as president and CEO. If you choose to retract allegations that are patently false, e.g. Akin Gump is consistently ranked as one of the top government relations practices in Washington, D.C.both by publications and peersthe public law and policy practice draws on the considerable governmental and bipartisan political experience of their lawyers and advocacy professionals, including former Members of Congress, congressional staff and other lawyers with considerable experience in government service, many of whom also engage in outside political activities. Mina Chang (born October 29, 1984) is an American singer, activist, and former government official. Mina Chang on Geospatial Intelligence in Proactive Development GEOINT 2018 Keynote Speaker Read the article here: http://trajectorymagazine.com/marshaling-data-for-the-greater-good/ The annual GEOINT Symposium is the nation's largest gathering of industry, academia, and government to include Defense, Intelligence and Homeland Security Communities as well as commercial, Fed/Civil, State and Local geospatial intelligence stakeholders. Anyone who reads her online articles would know that she has both supported and been critical of the current administration. She is based in Washington. When Chang was nominated for an even more senior job at the U.S. Agency for International Development, congressional staffers reviewing her background caught wind of the West Point episode. Chang's State Department biography page described her as an "alumna of the Harvard Business School," though NBC reported she only took a seven-week course there in 2016. Again, anyone who reviewed her recent past, with work in Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Somalia, would know that this decision makes absolute sense. After the cadet program collapsed, West Point asked Chang's charity to stop using West Point's logo and the logo of the academy's Center on Civil and Military Operations in her materials. WASHINGTON A senior Trump administration official has embellished her rsum with misleading claims about her professional background even creating a fake Time magazine cover with her face on it raising questions about her qualifications to hold a top position at the State Department. [emailprotected]. official Mina Chang claimed to be a Harvard Business School "alumna" who ran a nonprofit that worked in 40 countries. Charlotte Greco, Program/Office Manager. Peter Chang #245846 License Status: Active Address: 8251 La Palma Ave, # 414, Buena Park, CA 90620-3205 Phone: Not Available | Fax: Not . Briefings on the Hill are not verifiable. The organization then chose to cease development of the effort.. The month and date can be found on this Instagram picture published by Chang on her birthday: Last edited on 20 November 2022, at 22:14, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, United States Agency for International Development, United States Ambassador to the Philippines, "Mina Chang on Instagram: "Spent my birthday at Stanford University giving remarks about the importance of resiliency and positive peace. We have never inferred this was a real magazine cover, nor that we were the creator of it. She didnt give up singing entirely. Mina Chang and former CIA director David Petraeus in a 2017 Instagram photo. For example, Changs biography states that Mina is an alumna of the Harvard Business School, and a a graduate of the United States Army War College National Security Seminar. However, Chang actually only attended a seven-week course at Harvard in 2016 that does not offer a degree. There are certain people who are just called to contribute, disproportionately to the wellbeing of society, and Mina certainly tops that list. Both groups bestow membership through fees, according to Scott Gerber, the CEO of the Community Company, who manages both organizations. No Reviews. Mina Chang, who served as the deputy assistant secretary in the State Department 's Bureau of Conflict and Stability Operations, came under scrutiny last week after NBC News reported that she had misrepresented her academic credentials and created a fake Time magazine cover with her face on it.