at 12:23 pm, Mina Chang attends 2017 Women's Entrepreneurship Day at The United Nations on November 17, 2017 in New York City. Admission: 2017, New York. So, to remove any and all suggestion of inappropriate action, the donation mechanisms have all been completely removed. Mina Chang proved anyone can come to the U.S. and create an "American" identity by simply putting a bunch of shit on social media that's sent to a new generation of reporters and government officials who think shit on social media people create about themselves is real. 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 . ", "Asia Society Texas Center's Women's Leadership Series Featuring Mina Chang", "PN115 Mina Chang United States Agency for International Development", "Seventeen Nominations and Two Withdrawals Sent to the Senate", "Dallas' Mina Chang, a Trump official, used fake magazine cover to tout nonprofit work, NBC News finds", "Talk of the Town: Could this Harvard Graduate Be the Next U.S. She stepped down from the nonprofit role when she joined the State Department. [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. At one of those events he bid on an auction item, which accounts for the donation in its totality," Dailey told NBC News. Her information from the State Department mentions she is an "alumna" of Harvard Business School. There was one for the event production company she started at age 24, another site for her recording career. Shame on you every outlet that picked up this story without doing your own research and merely surmised the erroneous positions of the original. Attorney at Law offices of Mina Chang Huntington Beach . ", In the Trump administration, rapid turnover and uneven vetting instead creates opportunities for people who might not otherwise be considered, said Pfiffner. 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." IE 11 is not supported. I give out a name to the press, and they vet for me. At first glance, Changs body of work appears impressive. Facebook banner picture for defense contractor Automotive Management Services(AMS) featuring Mina Chang. An international K-pop 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. As terrifying as that was, working with her nonprofit served as a distraction and it appears that she has overcome the disease. 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. So, for clarity, Mina is very happily engaged to the ever so wonderful Jake Harriman. Mina Chang, a Trump . Henley. Have a tip we should know? Moreover, she has also been accused of inflating her work with the organization. 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. If you choose to retract allegations that are patently false, e.g. Apart from her Capitol Hill connection, Chang received support from Marocco at the State Department. 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. "One of the great mysteries of life for me has always been the question of why bad things happen to great people? Surely, Im never one to question the work of God, still when I see the obstacles he puts in the path of someone like, Mina Chang, I become even more convinced that each such challenge is a window into a bigger opportunity. "She must accept the full consequences of her actions.". The nature of our work requires that our analytical and planning processes must encompass a careful evaluation of how governmentlocal, state, federal or internationalcan, should and will impact our desired objectives. 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. Laura Strickler is a senior investigative producer and reporter for NBC News. We as a people need to be better than this, we need to hold reporters, politicians and ourselves to account. But her focus soon shifted to presenting herself as a passionate humanitarian. She attended a seven-week course there in 2016, according to the university. The report accused Chang of lying about graduating from Harvard, lying about a position she held at the. She was being considered for an even bigger government job, one with a budget of more than $1 billion, until Congress started asking questions about her rsum. 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. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. There are certain people who are just called to contribute, disproportionately to the wellbeing of society, and Mina certainly tops that list. Join the Observer community and help support Chang, however, had links to businesses outside of her NGO, according to her charity's website and Texas public records. November 13, 2019 She was an ambassador for Linking the World in Seoul, South Korea. Heres a glimpse of her approach to solving the worlds most pressing issues. Chris Riva Leaving FOX19 NOW: Where Is the Cincinnati Anchor Going? Linking the World has never usedeither pieceandthey werenever part ofanymedia packageusedfor Mina. The Time cover is not the most serious fabrication of Changs accomplishments. After publication of this article, Linking the World removed the "Donate" button and the video with the TIME cover from its website. 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. Naval Academy and served in the Marine Corps. The IRS revoked the organization's tax exempt status in May this year for failing to file its annual filings for the past three years, according to the agency's website. [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. Chang did not respond to a request for comment. She was being considered for another government position overseeing a major budget when Congress began asking about her rsum. https://www.exed.hbs.edu/advanced-management-program/. Mina Chang Net Worth Estimated Net Worth of her is $600k USD as of 2019. Brought some attention to it, indeed. Anyone who reads her online articles would know that she has both supported and been critical of the current administration. 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. Chang also claimed to be a graduate of the United States Army War College National Security Seminar, a Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive in National and International Security, and a former International Security Fellow at New America. She eventually got a foothold in Washington as a fellow with the New America think tank. 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The report highlights a 2017 video posted to Linking the Worlds website, which shows Chang being interviewed about the nonprofits work. At no time has Mina claimed to have a degree from the War College. [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, who assumed her post in April, also invented a role on a U.N. panel, claimed she had addressed both the Democratic and Republican national conventions, and implied she had testified before Congress. Emeritus Professors. It's not clear if Chang has such a clearance. That issue related to receipt of our 2016 and 2017 returns. Shame on you NBC for not requiring your reporters to do basic research. A fake Time magazine cover with her face on it added credibility to her bio for at least some people who found it online. Our unique research efforts provide the accurate and tested knowledge necessary to then engage local, state, federal, and international stakeholders to promote our mission and to advocate for policies that will not only make our country safer, but will help lift up vulnerable communities abroad. 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. Chang says in her official biography that she is as an "alumna" of Harvard Business School. In a 2015 speech, Chang said, "we have in-house canine search and rescue teams." 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. local news and culture, Stephen Young Mina Chang, a 35-year-old State . Details about Chang's nonprofit and how it operated remain unclear partly because at least three former contacts told NBC News they could not speak due to nondisclosure agreements they were required to sign. [8], She completed a seven-week program through Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program (AMP). By 2014, she had set up Linking the World under the umbrella of a local foundation in Dallas, according to the foundation. 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. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. So, shame on you Mr. De Luce. 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. "It was like trying to weave a narrative out of whole cloth," said someone familiar with Chang's nonprofit. 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. So happy to be with Mina Trinity Chang and Trinity. official government biography were refuted. For my unconquerable soul. W.E. Research | Development | Advocacy Data-driven humanitarian initiatives in the context of national security. 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. . At the time, Chang had multiple websites promoting her work. The gap between Chang's actual qualifications and her claims appears to be the latest example of lax vetting by the Trump administration, which has become known for its many job vacancies and appointments made without thorough screening. Susan Posnick and other people who came into contact with Chang over the years said they had lingering suspicions about how she promoted and presented herself, and wondered when things would catch up with her. Minas nomination was not withdrawn by the Administration, or anyone other than herself. WASHINGTON Mina Chang figured out how to work the levers in Dallas and in the nation's capital, making connections with key figures and cultivating an online image, until her overblown. "She spent almost two decades building herself out of thin air.". Lecturers. Chang has a daughter named Trinity from her previous marriage.[24]. The Womens Leadership Steering Committee is chaired by Dr Anne Chaoand Paula W Hinton. Charlotte Greco grew up in the Boston area and joined the Harvard Law School community in 2022 as the Program Manager for the Program on Biblical Law and Christian Legal Studies. The program permits people who have finished the program to call themselves alumni, and creates an opportunity for them to tap into the Harvard alumni network. Farayi Chipungu, Scott Westfahl. 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. Ari Sen is a freelance journalist and former investigative unit intern at NBC News currently studying at UC Berkeleys Graduate School of Journalism. 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. "[7][3], Mina Chang is married to Jake Harriman. 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. A spokesman for Chang said Bulatao did not "have any part in Ms. Chang's appointment within the State Department." 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. An auction bid from 2015, is a despicable example of correlation with no foundation. Mina obtained her position at the State Department on her own merit, at no time was Brian Bulatao part of her nomination / recruitment / review process. 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. After obtaining our data and analyzing it, we go a step further than a traditional think tank by actively engaging and working with partners on the ground to effectuate long lasting change. The next installment in the series will feature Cherie Blair, the former First Lady of the United Kingdom. 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. 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. So apparently if you want a job with the Trump administration you make Fake News literally. Government watchdogs, former officials and members of Congress have accused the White House of failing to thoroughly vet appointees and nominees for senior-level offices. Update your Profile ; Education & Credentials. In this politicized climate, if this is what we have become, then we have much work to do. 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. My superiors at the Department refused to defend me, stand up for the truth or allow me to answer the false charges against me. Our goal with research is simple: if we can identify those who are most at risk, we can share this expert knowledge and employ development and advocacy efforts to help win the hearts and minds of these communities before radical groups are formed. The Humanitarian UAV Network UAViators does not mention Chang or Linking the World on a list of advisers. "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. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. "Most administrations are very thorough about that. 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We do not just provide rhetoric and philosophical thought; in fact, we go light on the philosophy. We save a lot of money that way.". NBC News was unable to find any record of her or her organization ever testifying before Congress. Chang claimed that she is "an alumna of the Harvard Business School" who has "addressed . This . She was writing songs for other artists before she was signed to a label and recording albums in both English and Korean. Mina Trinity Chang (born 1984) has deleted or switched to private her social profiles in the wake of the NBC News investigation. Mina loves her position at State and decided to withdraw herself from the process to focus on stabilization operations. 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. He ignored that request. The administration announced an intent to nominate her in late 2018. [13][18], On November 18, 2019, Chang resigned from her role at the United States Department of State. Michelle Muscatello Leaving WPRI: Where Is the Rhode Island Meteorologist Going? Marocco endorsed her for the job and McCaul wrote her a recommendation letter. But when Harvard was asked if Chang had attended the university, a spokesperson told NBC News . In April 2019, she assumed office as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Departments Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. 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. Show all faculty types. 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. Chang lists just $12,000 in income before she took the State Department job and listed no salary from her charity. But he added that Bulatao had no role in the organization. In a 2014 video she described her charity to a room full of Texas college students. 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. 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. Mina Chang. In August, Trump withdrew a nominee for director of national intelligence, Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, less than a week after lawmakers raised questions about his qualifications and the accuracy of his rsum. 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. To suggest that we didnt file is incorrect. its this, right here. Tell me about this cover and how this came to be?" One such thing she claimed is having been on a U.N. panel discussing the use of drones in humanitarian efforts. Click here to read the latest CNN article. Mina E. Khalil is a legal and social historian of the modern Middle East. "If you take a look at it, the vetting process for the White House is very good," the president told reporters. She told an audience in 2014 that she worked with world leaders, saying, "Linking the World provides hunger relief medical aid, we have operated schools, we have built schools in places like Afghanistan, Myanmar, Kenya, Haiti. One year Bulatao bid on an auction item that resulted in a $5,500 donation to the group, Dailey said. and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch. Our 2015, 990-tax filing indicated $10,000 of overseas spending. For those who know us, for those who have overwhelmed us with your love and support, we thank you. ", "Chang eyed as next US envoy to Philippines", "Trump official inflated rsum, report reveals and created fake Time cover", "Senior Trump official Mina Chang 'faked Time magazine cover and inflated claims in CV', "Unfortunately, I Love the State Department Scammer", "How To Tell a Fake TIME Cover From a Real One", "Global Outlook Interview with Mary Sit, January 2017", "Mina Chang Wiki, Age, Husband & Facts About the State Department Official with the Fake Time Cover", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mina_Chang&oldid=1122959723, This page was last edited on 20 November 2022, at 22:14. U.S. State Department official and former, Become a member to support the independent voice of Dallas There, Chang only listed the University of the Nations, an unaccredited Christian school born out of their Youth With a Mission movement that, according to its website, was founded to train students in ministering the love of Christ and teaching others according to the command of Christ to make disciples of all nations.. NBC reported last week that Chang had misleadingly claimed in her official bio that she was an "alumna" of Harvard Business School when in fact she only attended a seven-week course there. Rest assured, we will not stop our work, whether that be at the State Department, Linking the World, or as individuals. Spend a few minutes with her, and you, too will be infected with her zest for life and her determination to not only win her own battles, but more importantly, to turn hope into measurable action. 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 old friend who knew her in Dallas and did not want to be named said, "It's like Leonardo DiCaprio in that movie 'Catch Me If You Can,' I've been saying that for years," she said. MC . Chang further claimed to have addressed presidential national conventions in 2016, but that was also found to be false. She has boasted about her work in multiple talks and speeches, which are shared on the website. Attorneys/ Law Firms Search; Newest Law Firms and Attorneys; Law School Alumni Search; . [5], In January 2017, Chang spoke at the Asia Society Texas Center's Women's Leadership Series as a featured guest. At no time has Mina claimed to have a degree from SMU. Her biography on the State Department website says she is a "graduate" of a program at the Army War College. She stands 5 feet 8 Inch tall and weighs around 64KG. For those of you who are not familiar with me, I am not Mina. Screenshot of Mina Changs Linked In Profile. 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. We have never inferred this was a real magazine cover, nor that we were the creator of it. He founded Nuru International. I will no longer participate in this grievous misrepresentation, where the truth is discarded for spin. Ten years ago, Chang was pursuing a career as a recording artist before she turned to humanitarian work. Those included a former intern and a former senior development adviser for Linking the World, Michael Baker. Similarly, the Army War College program she attended was a four-day seminar that does not have any graduates. Both institutions confirmed this. In past administrations, White House staff carefully checked a potential appointee's education and work bona fides, as well as any court cases or criminal records that could be damaging, said Pfiffner of George Mason. I am currently working with the IRS to have our status reinstated. The interviewer in the video told NBC News that Chang brought the fake cover to the interview to illustrate the significance of her work. Marocco declined to comment through a Pentagon spokesperson. 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. 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.". Upon notification, donations were not able to be submitted through any of our channels. Despite losing its charitable status, the organization continued to solicit donations on its website. The questions were not seeking to profile Mina or the organization, as any objective reporter would have done. 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.' She showed up at international conferences, including a 2015 event in the German city of Stuttgart with defense contractors that carry out work in Africa. Another NDA was signed by a freelance journalist who was planning to accompany Chang on a 2015 trip to Afghanistan that was sponsored by the defense contractor AMS. Mina Chang at Ground Zero event on Sept. 11, 2017. But before her humanitarian and government career, she was a singer. 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. A lot of people are guilty of embellishing a detail or two on their rsum, but a top Trump administration official reportedly took it to a whole other level. Unlike the path that other humanitarians typically follow, Chang pursued connections with military contractors. The administration announced an intent to nominate her in late 2018. We did file, and copies of those filings have been resent to the IRS.