Mina Chang sports a subtle smile on the cover of a Time magazine "Special Edition," with a swaggering headline that reads, "We change the world: Modern humanitarian in the digital age." The. She has spoken about her work at various events, including D Magazines D CEOs 2017 Womens Leadership Symposium. "Well, we started using drone technology in disaster response and so that was when the whole talk of how is technology being used to save lives in disaster response scenarios, I suppose I brought some attention to that," Chang said. The U.S. embassy in the Philippines at the time dismissed the rumor as inaccurate. [2][11][12], On April 29, 2019, Chang was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations,[13] and stepped down from her president and CEO positions at Linking the World. The interviewer in the video told NBC News that Chang brought the fake cover to the interview to illustrate the significance of her work. Brad Johansen Leaving NBC4 Columbus: Where Is the Anchor Going? Mina Chang Assistant United States Attorney at United States Attorneys' Offices Henderson, Nevada, United States 240 followers 238 connections Join to connect United States Attorneys' Offices. Chang lists just $12,000 in income before she took the State Department job and listed no salary from her charity. Laura Strickler is a senior investigative producer and reporter for NBC News. 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. In 2015, Chang partnered with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to host cadets for internships at her nonprofit in Dallas. According to the university, Chang attended a seven-week course in 2016, and does not hold a degree from the institution. A profile in June 2014 by the Dallas Observer reports Chang, who is described as once having "a flourishing career as an international pop singer," is the child of two Salvation Army officers. Several key claims in Changs official government biography were refuted. [2][17][18] The NBC News report also states that she claimed to have spoken at both Democratic and Republican national conventions, and that her resume implies she had testified before Congress. In addition to her event production company, she publicly claimed a connection to Vissero Partners LLC, a company that sought investments from wealthy foreign nationals who invest at least $250,000 in U.S.-based projects in exchange for visas through the federal EB-5 program. I am currently working with the IRS to have our status reinstated. Chang has touted her small nonprofit online and in speeches as operating in dozens of countries, building schools and "impacting" thousands of people. Chang further claimed to have addressed presidential national conventions in 2016, but that was also found to be false. For my unconquerable soul. W.E. Discussion with Assistant", "Who Is Mina Chang? 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. IE 11 is not supported. Dont Miss:Britainy Beshear Wiki,New Kentucky Governor Andy Beshears Wife. 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When asked about her comments, her former chief of staff, Ian Dailey, said the charity had one dog "onboarded" but the dog was "diagnosed with seizures" and "retired." MC . By the time Rep. McCaul issued the recommendation letter, Chang's nomination was moving ahead thanks to her own contacts in the administration, said a spokesperson for the congressman, Kaylin Minton. Faculty Directory | Harvard Law School "Here you are on Time magazine, congratulations! The Womens Leadership Steering Committee is chaired by Dr Anne Chaoand Paula W Hinton. Marocco declined to comment through a Pentagon spokesperson. [5] During this time she did volunteer work in relief efforts, which led to her joining the Korea-based nonprofit "Linking the World". Mina Chang, a Trump . For those who know us, for those who have overwhelmed us with your love and support, we thank you. The charity responded, "No.". No Reviews. Heres a glimpse of her approach to solving the worlds most pressing issues." 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.". 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. Mina Chang and former CIA director David Petraeus in a 2017 Instagram photo. It turns out that Chang does not hold a degree from Harvard and only attended a seven-week course at the institution in 2016. 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We take real scenarios based on concrete data to address the root drivers of instability and to effectuate action. Mina Chang Claims She Is a Harvard Alumna Mina Trinity Chang (born 1984) has deleted or switched to private her social profiles in the wake of the NBC News investigation. Faculty Type. Ten years ago, Chang was pursuing a career as a recording artist before she turned to humanitarian work. I can also confirm that no donations were received / accepted over the notification period. McCaul, through a spokesperson, said he now has a different perspective on Chang's qualifications. We have at least one geotagged photograph of Linking the Worlds participation on that Panel, along with its working documents. 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. For Chang's current job, her most relevant experience would appear to be her time as CEO of a nonprofit called Linking the World. Update your Profile ; Education & Credentials. Peter Chang #245846 License Status: Active Address: 8251 La Palma Ave, # 414, Buena Park, CA 90620-3205 Phone: Not Available | Fax: Not . "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. That same year she told another group, "We've responded to major disasters, the typhoon in the Philippines, earthquake in Nepal, Ebola in West Africa, we did all these things", But according to the IRS, Chang's charity only submitted one tax filing and that was in 2015. According to papers from her divorce case in 2011, she was due to receive nearly $1,400 a month in child support and $500 in alimony per month for a year from her ex-husband, a real estate developer. 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. However, her LinkedIn profile provides details of her inflated career history. Mina Chang - Assistant United States Attorney - United States Attorneys [2][3], Chang, a Korean-American,[4] claims to be the child of two Salvation Army officers and allegedly spent her childhood in Atlanta. ", In a statement, Chang colleague Dailey said: "Throughout this process I have provided honest answers that have only partially been utilized, or ignored entirely. So happy to be with Mina Trinity Chang and Trinity. Her resume was a shining list of stellar credentials, even including a Harvard diploma. The magazine published a short snippet about Changs latest news,saying,She wont be invited back.. Harvard Business School spokesperson Mark Cautela said the school grants "alumni status" to anyone who attends certain executive education programs, even without having earned a degree there. Emailus. Chris Riva Leaving FOX19 NOW: Where Is the Cincinnati Anchor Going? Chang, the State Department and the White House did not respond to requests for comment. Legal Guides; Lawyer Referral Service; Problem with a Lawyer; Attorney Profile. That does not make sense to me," said Jane Searing, an expert on nonprofit tax forms and an accountant at the accounting firm Clark Nuber in Washington state. Senior Trump official embellished rsum, had face on fake Time cover The U.S. Military Academy's public affairs office declined to comment. The Humanitarian UAV Network UAViators does not mention Chang or Linking the World on a list of advisers. Similarly, the program at the . Chang says in her official biography that she is as an "alumna" of Harvard Business School. He said, "I realized this is 100 percent bulls---. [5], In January 2017, Chang spoke at the Asia Society Texas Center's Women's Leadership Series as a featured guest. Each body has verified each and every one of her stated achievements. Chang was previously married. Time magazine spokesperson Kristin Matzen said the cover is "not authentic.". After this, an enthusiastic fan online took one step further and used an app to make a fake magazine cover with Minas actual image superimposed on the cover andit wassubsequentlycirculatedonline. The administration announced an intent to nominate her in late 2018. Minas resume, profiles, and statements have been reviewed by 4 separate bodies, including the FBI and State Department Investigators. Linking the World CEO, Mina Chang, was invited as the keynote speaker for the Women's Leadership Series at the Brown Foundation Performing Arts Theatre. Mina Khalil Visiting Fellow. . Course Catalog | Harvard Law School Mina Chang: Senior Trump official 'faked Time magazine cover and After hearing concerns from a cadet working as an intern at the nonprofit, the faculty member, who did not want to be identified, looked up the organization's website and concluded the charity was not worthy of a West Point association. She also showed up at a 9/11 commemoration that McCaul attended and had coffee with members of the lawmaker's staff, the sources said. Mina Chang, 35, was appointed the deputy assistant secretary in the State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations in April. Have a tip or story idea? We believe funding to counter violent extremism must specifically target the root drivers of instability; - Advocating for wide-scale collaboration between diplomatic, political, and military arms of the US government in order to ensure partner governments uphold their commitments and continue to build trust by investing in marginalized and vulnerable communities; - Assisting the US government and lawmakers in updating mandates and priories that are currently in existence in regards to multilateral institutions and platforms that help to counter violent extremism. The administration announced an intent to nominate her in late 2018. [9] NBC News accused her of falsely claiming to be a former chief of staff of a nonprofit (INGO), to have had a role on a UN panel, and to have appeared on the front cover of Time magazine. My hope is that youll re-read that article now, and see it for what it is, a classic hit-job.I received some of that reporters questions, and it was clear from the outset, that he had already made up his mind. NBC News was unable to find any record of her or her organization ever testifying before Congress. Ari Sen is a freelance journalist and former investigative unit intern at NBC News currently studying at UC Berkeleys Graduate School of Journalism. Mina has 1 job listed on their profile. Chang claimed that she is "an alumna of the Harvard Business School" who has "addressed . She served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of State's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations from April 2019 until her resignation on November 18, 2019, after NBC News reported that she had falsified her resume with multiple false or misleading claims about her education, charity work, and that she had appeared on a Time magazine cover. A former West Point faculty member and a source familiar with the matter said the program was quickly scrapped, after it became apparent the nonprofit was not doing much work and the interns were sitting in a mostly empty office. A senior State Department official in President Donald Trumps administration reportedly landed the role after falsifying numerous aspects of her professional and educational background, including creating a fake Time magazine cover with her face on it. One year Bulatao bid on an auction item that resulted in a $5,500 donation to the group, Dailey said. She eventually got a foothold in Washington as a fellow with the New America think tank. A 24-year-old former Trump campaign volunteer, Taylor Weyeneth, rose to a senior job in the White House drug policy office without any relevant professional experience. Marocco endorsed her for the job and McCaul wrote her a recommendation letter. On her path to Washington, Chang pushed some tenuous connections too far. The Time cover is not the most serious fabrication of Changs accomplishments. Chang has a daughter named Trinity from her previous marriage.[24]. Needless to say, all of this is raising a lot of questions about how exactly the Trump administration goes about vetting job candidates. But she had no track record in academia or published research. She often asked those who performed work for her to sign nondisclosure agreements, the former associates said. Shame on you NBC for not requiring your reporters to do basic research. Harvard University Affiliated Professors. The Dallas residents LinkedIn mentions that she studied Development/Aid Practices at the University of the Nations, Executive Nonprofit Leadership at Southern Methodist University, Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, and National and International Security at the Harvard Kennedy School. Even a cursory online search would provide evidence of our activities since 2001, and I have summarized 2001 2015 here: https://www.linkingtheworld.org/ltw-brief-history-2001-2015. Mina Chang (born October 29, 1984) is an American singer, activist, and former government official. New York, NY 10036-6518; Peer Reviews. The organization then chose to cease development of the effort.. "[7][3], Mina Chang is married to Jake Harriman. Our research efforts blend together traditional approaches of a think tank with modern and future-leaning tools of a high-tech business intelligence firm. Mina Chang resigned Monday, six days after an NBC News report about her resume inflation and hours after NBC asked her about newly discovered false claims. Dallas-Ex Mina Chang Lied Her Way Into Trump - Dallas Observer After publication of this article, Linking the World removed the "Donate" button and the video with the TIME cover from its website. The State Department vetting is supposed to examine tax returns, any unexplained wealth, social media accounts, the status of domestic staff, any inappropriate or worrisome track record in the workplace and any potential questions about integrity, said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former director general of the foreign service and director of personnel at the State Department. Her biography on the State Department website says she is a "graduate" of a program at the Army War College. Our belief is that these factors cause nations to weaken all the way down to the community level, which subsequently increases their likelihood of conflict and security challenges. Lecturers. its this, right here. Visiting Professors. The questions were not seeking to profile Mina or the organization, as any objective reporter would have done. Laura Strickler is a senior investigative producer and reporter for NBC News. We do not just provide rhetoric and philosophical thought; in fact, we go light on the philosophy. At no time has Mina claimed to have a degree from the War College. We create broad awareness of Americas unique role in the world. Mina Chang, a 35-year-old State . In May 2013, Chang was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent chemotherapy for a year. . In 2015, her charity received tax exempt status from the IRS, according to public records. 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. She is not the first White House official to put their face on a fake Time magazine cover. "How are they accomplishing so much without spending at least $10,000 in those countries? For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The next installment in the series will feature Cherie Blair, the former First Lady of the United Kingdom. State Department Official Resigns After Allegedly Inflating - HuffPost An auction bid from 2015, is a despicable example of correlation with no foundation. An international K-pop singer! It . Thats absolutely correct, in a year when we were pivoting our organization from extensive programming to becoming a thought-leader that tested cutting-edge technologies. I am not the radiant light, the forever hopeful and passionate fighter of those who cant defend themselves. 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. Dan De Luceis a reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit. Chang's trips to conflict areas in Afghanistan and Iraq were paid for by the defense contractor AMS. She was appointed to the State Department post in the interim. November 13, 2019 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. Program Priorities; Pro Bono; Legal Aid Grants; Donate to Legal Aid; Search Website. Dallas' independent source of "Most administrations are very thorough about that. She apparently is also a civilian graduate of the United States Army War College. 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. Mina Chang: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com It's not clear if Chang has such a clearance. and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch. Senior Trump admin official Mina Chang resigns after embellishing - AOL He is the founder of Nuru International, a social venture that primarily works in Kenya, Ethiopia, and the USA. "If you take a look at it, the vetting process for the White House is very good," the president told reporters. Mina Chang Falsified Resume, Created Fake Time Magazine Cover | Law & Crime The cover is "not authentic," said a spokesperson for the magazine. For 2015, the organization listed spending just $44,645 on salaries but more than $60,000 on "advertising and promotion" and $50,298 on travel. He said he has resubmitted the forms and expects the "administrative issue" to be resolved soon. The organization recently removed Chang's bio from its website noting, "The content of this page has been deleted due to questions raised about its accuracy.". On a personal note, I could not be more disgusted with the unwarranted attack on our organization or Minas tireless work to help those who arent able to help themselves. "I signed an NDA regarding all conversations," she told NBC News. 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. The McCaul staffer "was one of many social connections she had in D.C., and she was well on the way to obtaining a position when the letter was sent," Minton said. But her focus soon shifted to presenting herself as a passionate humanitarian.