Charlotte Greco, Program/Office Manager. The allegations against Chang, 35, first appeared in an NBC News report on November 12. Have a tip or story idea? Click here to read the latest CNN article. We do not just provide rhetoric and philosophical thought; in fact, we go light on the philosophy. Whatever her qualifications, Chang had a key connection in the Trump administration. Applying Adaptive Leadership to Thrive and Lead Change in Uncertain Times. Law School Regulation; Access to Justice. She has often cited her organization's work with drones in humanitarian relief efforts but four experts in that field said they had not heard of her organization. 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. 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. Biography. She was writing songs for other artists before she was signed to a label and recording albums in both English and Korean. Linking the World tax filings. Chris Riva Leaving FOX19 NOW: Where Is the Cincinnati Anchor Going? Fifteen years ago Mina Chang lived in Dallas and went by her first name, Sharon, attending a flurry of charity events and making social connections with affluent Republicans and retired military officers working in the defense industry. The Trump administration has faced criticism for its lax vetting, inadequate screening, and lack of thorough security clearance investigation of top officials. 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We are proud and privileged for Akin's support on a pro-bono basis. [5], In January 2017, Chang spoke at the Asia Society Texas Center's Women's Leadership Series as a featured guest. 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. Graduating from the U.S. Army War College, National Security Seminar. The fake cover seems to highlight that side of her, with the main headline reading: We Change the World: Modern Humanitarian in the Digital Age., The cover was displayed in a video posted on the Linking the World website, featuring an interview of her talking about the organizations work and being featured on Time. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York Law School and previously worked in financial securities compliance and Civil Rights employment law. He ignored that request. In a 2017 video posted on her nonprofit's website, Chang can be heard describing her work while a Time magazine cover with her face on it scrolls past. asks the interviewer, who hosts a YouTube show. Dont Miss:Britainy Beshear Wiki,New Kentucky Governor Andy Beshears Wife. Heres a glimpse of her approach to solving the worlds most pressing issues. But it was discovered that Chang doesnt have an actual degree from Harvard, though she claims to be an alumna. Our aim is to ensure lessons are being learned, innovation is prioritized, and the true reality of violent extremist situations is being reported rather than political rhetoric and individual agendas. For those of you who are not familiar with me, I am not Mina. Unlike the path that other humanitarians typically follow, Chang pursued connections with military contractors. Dan De Luceis a reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit. https://www.linkingtheworld.org/hill-briefings, Episode On 33voices, Inc. with Moe Abdou, Like all admired leaders, she anticipates that problems in the world will never cease, they will only change; and its how you respond to them that will determine your fate. [5] During this time she did volunteer work in relief efforts, which led to her joining the Korea-based nonprofit "Linking the World". In a Feb. 8, 2018 letter to the White House, McCaul gave Chang "the strongest recommendation" to serve in a senior leadership position at the State Department, either in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations or in the Bureau of Counterterrorism. During the interview, the screen cuts to a shot of the magazine cover with Changs face on it as the interviewer asks her how [the cover] came to be.. I am not the radiant light, the forever hopeful and passionate fighter of those who cant defend themselves. Mina Chang. The magazine published a short snippet about Changs latest news,saying,She wont be invited back.. 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. A fake Time magazine cover with Mina Chang. To provide some context, State Department officials are not allowed to respond to reporters, regardless of the content of the stories being published. Farayi Chipungu, Scott Westfahl. Those included a former intern and a former senior development adviser for Linking the World, Michael Baker. The U.S. Military Academy's public affairs office declined to comment. Chang says in her official biography that she is as an "alumna" of Harvard Business School. It's not clear if Chang has such a clearance. In 2015, her charity received tax exempt status from the IRS, according to public records. She was appointed to the State Department post in the interim. official government biography were refuted. 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. To be clear, we have operated in 43 countries, built schools, medical clinics, and countless other activities serving thousands upon thousands of those most in need. [10], On January 16, 2019, the Trump administration nominated Chang to be the Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. Her charity's website featured pictures of Chang in war-torn places with unnamed children. Emeritus Professors. 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. However, her LinkedIn profile provides details of her inflated career history. Her Instagram account shows international food donations featuring Linking the World logos. 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. Visiting Professors. His Ph.D. dissertation entitled "A Society's Crucible: Recasting the Criminal Defendant in Modern Egypt, 1820-1920" explores the . Link copied Nov. 18, 2019, 10:50 PM UTC . An old profile on her states that she split time between her pop star life and humanitarian work. When Mina was diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this year, it was a horrifying tragedy, but one thats destined to magnify the impact shes having Linking The World. The questions were not seeking to profile Mina or the organization, as any objective reporter would have done. 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. The event will featured leaders from government, military, journalism, academia, and the private sector exploring questions of international security and defense, bringing together interdisciplinary experts working to develop new paradigms for understanding and addressing the changing nature of armed conflict and systematic violence.====================================New America is dedicated to the renewal of American politics, prosperity, and purpose in the digital age through big ideas, technological innovation, next generation politics, and creative engagement with broad audiences. Her Instagram account, which has 44,000 followers, was filled with pictures of her with big names in national security and politics like former CIA director and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, retired Gen. David Petraeus and former President George W. Bush's adviser Karl Rove. Before she resigned last week and took it down, her Facebook account had 77,000 followers. It claimed that she was an "alumna of the Harvard Business School" and held undergraduate degrees from Southern Methodist University and the University of the Nations, an unaccredited Christian school with volunteer teachers. In retrospect, she should have clarified the origins of the coverin that moment, instead, she answered the question she was posed, more broadly. Brought some attention to it, indeed. State Department staffer got job with embellished resume, fake Time magazine cover, Democratic and Republican national conventions, who once worked in the government's Office of Personnel Management, an unaccredited Christian school with volunteer teachers, 'These people couldnt even get an internship on Capitol Hill. The now infamous Time magazine cover. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. 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. #FakeNews pic.twitter.com/LpEbwxH0xA, Rob Richardson (@RobforOHIO) November 12, 2019, She presents an image of a globetrotting humanitarian with extensive experience in international security and foreign aid. Video from that time, posted on her YouTube page, promotes her holiday album. "Here you are on Time magazine, congratulations! State Department staffer got job with embellished resume, fake Time magazine cover. 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. Mina loves her position at State and decided to withdraw herself from the process to focus on stabilization operations. November 13, 2019 He said he has resubmitted the forms and expects the "administrative issue" to be resolved soon. Linking the World was the first international NGO to receive such an exemption. She has boasted about her work in multiple talks and speeches, which are shared on the website. That bio is still posted on the State Departments website at the time of this publication. She and her ex-husband have a daughter, Trinity (born 2008), named after Minas middle name. There are certain people who are just called to contribute, disproportionately to the wellbeing of society, and Mina certainly tops that list. No Reviews. At one of those events he bid on an auction item, which accounts for the donation in its totality," Dailey told NBC News. Simply, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been rather busy with other activities and all nominees were subject to extensive delays. The organization's tax-exempt status was revoked by the IRS earlier this year. She is not the first White House official to put their face on a fake Time magazine cover. Ari Sen is a freelance journalist and former investigative unit intern at NBC News currently studying at UC Berkeleys Graduate School of Journalism. Mina Changs husband, Jake Harriman, is a graduate of the U.S. 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. Update your Profile ; Education & Credentials. But wait, theres more: Chang was originally being considered for an even more senior government post in which she would have overseen the U.S. Agency for International Developments work in Asia. "They want to see talented people with integrity appointed to senior positions. 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. Mina Chang, 35, the deputy assistant . 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. He said, "I realized this is 100 percent bulls---. Mina did participate at both the RNC/DNC conventions through an event called Global Oval, one of many events that are side bars to the main convention. Two Other Money Laundering Indictments Unsealed as Part of Operation "Phantom Bank" Federal authorities today arrested 11 defendants named in a sweeping racketeering indictment alleging a series of money laundering schemes that revolved around the former head of Saigon National Bank, based in Westminster, California, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice . By: Caroline John - Published: November 13, 2019 at 5:43 am | Last Updated: It reflects, and has always reflected, that Linking the World operates an in-country volunteer and donation model, that requires minimal U.S. staff and no local offices or employees. Michelle Muscatello Leaving WPRI: Where Is the Rhode Island Meteorologist Going? 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. Dallas' independent source of "To not file with the IRS for three years is really being a scofflaw," Eve Borenstein, a lawyer with Harmon Curran law firm and a prominent expert on nonprofit tax law, told NBC News. We have at least one geotagged photograph of Linking the Worlds participation on that Panel, along with its working documents. [13][18], On November 18, 2019, Chang resigned from her role at the United States Department of State. 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. A review of her nonprofit's IRS returns from 2014 and 2015 shows no information about operating or building schools, and offers no details about staff devoted to managing aid projects on the ground in those countries. For Chang's current job, her most relevant experience would appear to be her time as CEO of a nonprofit called Linking the World. She was an ambassador for Linking the World in Seoul, South Korea. So apparently if you want a job with the Trump administration you make Fake News literally. Moreover, she has also been accused of inflating her work with the organization. An NBC News investigation found that Mina Chang, the deputy assistant secretary in the State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stability Operations, has inflated her educational achievements and exaggerated the scope of her nonprofit's work. Her resume was a shining list of stellar credentials, even including a Harvard diploma. Most recently, Mina served as the Executive Director of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, the largest police oversight agency in the nation which investigates allegations of police misconduct. Mina has never claimed to have a degree from Harvard. By 2014, she had set up Linking the World under the umbrella of a local foundation in Dallas, according to the foundation. Facebook banner picture for defense contractor Automotive Management Services(AMS) featuring Mina Chang. 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. 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. Mou Abdou, Founder and Host of 33voices, Cover for the Observer 'People of the Year' Issue, In the third People Issue for the Observer Magazine, Linking the World CEO Mina Chang was named as one of the 'People of the Year.' It. Screenshot of Mina Changs Linked In Profile. 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. 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. An international K-pop singer! During a live interviewwith Mary Sit, on a public access/University channel, the piece was used without prior permission or approval from Mina or Linking the World. We take real scenarios based on concrete data to address the root drivers of instability and to effectuate action. In her State Department post, Chang, 35, from Dallas, helps oversee efforts to prevent conflicts from erupting in politically unstable countries. Spring 2023 Course. She took the material down when requested. [11] The nomination was withdrawn on September 9, 2019. 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. 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. Upon notification, donations were not able to be submitted through any of our channels. IE 11 is not supported. One House staffer who met her in Washington found the Time cover when Googling Chang's name and assumed it was real, "That made me think she was legit," the former staffer said. Also Read:Melissa Cohen Wiki, Facts to Know About Hunter Bidens New Wife. Tell me about this cover and how this came to be?" 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 . Dan De Luceis a reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit. The report highlights a 2017 video posted to Linking the Worlds website, which shows Chang being interviewed about the nonprofits work. She earns a six-figure salary in a bureau with a $6 million budget. At the time, Chang had multiple websites promoting her work. Without any university degrees or work in the policy world, Chang sought out seminars and organizations that would allow her to associate herself with prestigious institutions and convey an aura of credibility and expertise. 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. However, thats not mentioned in her LinkedIn profile. Marocco declined to comment through a Pentagon spokesperson. 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. "They could be partnering with another organization, but then they should say that and not claim those accomplishments as their own.". You wonder why the media isnt trusted? [9], Prior to 2010, Chang performed as a pop singer, touring internationally and recording albums in both English and Korean. Chang attended a seven-week course at the college in 2016 but . MC . . An auction bid from 2015, is a despicable example of correlation with no foundation. Why only to 2015? One such thing she claimed is having been on a U.N. panel discussing the use of drones in humanitarian efforts. 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. "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.". I said, 'Pull the interns.'". [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. She did not end up going on the trip. We pilot new technologies, testing their practicalities, and seek to identify the 'unintended consequences' that are rife in our industry," Dailey told NBC News. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. But he added that Bulatao had no role in the organization. Chang showed up with stuff to give out at a bunch of locations around . [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. Mina Chang, the State Department's deputy assistant secretary to the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, has made misleading claims about her education at Harvard Business. Im proud that we have achieved so much, with so little except the love and time of our volunteers and supporters around the world. The State Department and its Diplomatic Security Service, which helps vet appointees, did not respond to requests for comment. Our research efforts blend together traditional approaches of a think tank with modern and future-leaning tools of a high-tech business intelligence firm. Today, Chang's colleague Ian Dailey says the Dallas charity was spawned from a Korean international relief organization that worked in 40 countries and started in 1998. He is the founder of Nuru International, a social venture that primarily works in Kenya, Ethiopia, and the USA. 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. To suggest that we didnt file is incorrect. IE 11 is not supported. At first glance, Chang's body of work appears impressive. Chang seems to have followed in the footsteps of President Trump and fabricated a Time magazine cover of herself, which she showed off as a testimony to her work. The committee staff "has been forced to dedicate a significant amount of time and resources on vetting this administration's nominees because of the White House's negligence or incompetence," Menendez said. This is the world we so desperately need to counteract. For those who know us, for those who have overwhelmed us with your love and support, we thank you. Posted by Sony Chang onSunday, June 16, 2019. Ari Sen is a freelance journalist and former investigative unit intern at NBC News currently studying at UC Berkeleys Graduate School of Journalism. Marocco endorsed her for the job and McCaul wrote her a recommendation letter. Chang also paid to be a member of Ellevate, a women's networking group, which helped Chang place articles promoting herself and her charity in Forbes and the Huffington Post, according to its marketing coordinator, Nazli Tamer. Similarly, the program at the . Heres a glimpse of her approach to solving the worlds most pressing issues." When Chang was mentioned as a possible candidate for ambassador to the Philippines in local media in Manila, newspapers wrote incorrectly that she was a "Harvard graduate." [2][3], Chang, a Korean-American,[4] claims to be the child of two Salvation Army officers and allegedly spent her childhood in Atlanta. The administration announced an intent to nominate her in late 2018. Her prior experience includes roles in university admissions, event coordination, office management, staffing, and non-profit . She attended a seven-week course there in 2016, according to the university. Mina Chang circa 2009 when she was pursuing a career as a recording artist. We are stronger, we are more determined, and we are forever dedicated to serve others and to make this world safer, from all threats, foreign and domestic. 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. She claimed to be an alumna of Harvard Business School, which the school verified as correct, through the completion of a non-degree certificate course. "It does seem that this administration has not been doing the same depth of vetting as previous administrations," said James Pfiffner, a George Mason University professor and expert on the executive branch who once worked in the government's Office of Personnel Management, which does vetting. After Ratcliffe's nomination flamed out, Trump defended his administration's screening of job candidates, saying the news media helped the White House filter nominees. 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. She is based in Washington. She says she "addressed" both the Democratic and Republican national conventions in 2016, but videos and documents show she instead spoke at separate events held in Philadelphia and Cleveland during the same time periods. Ten years ago, Chang was pursuing a career as a recording artist before she turned to humanitarian work. At no time has Mina claimed to have a degree from SMU. (Photo by Chance Yeh/WireImage). Mina Chang at Ground Zero event on Sept. 11, 2017. Brad Johansen Leaving NBC4 Columbus: Where Is the Anchor Going? Chang, who resigned after NBC News revealed holes in her rsum, had ties to two State Department officials and a staffer for Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. New York, NY 10036-6518; Peer Reviews. 3 credit (s) M, T 10:15am - 11:45am. [23], Chang's State Department biography remained unchanged following the NBC News report until it was removed on November 18, 2019.