Mina did not create or commission the Time Magazine cover. She has spoken about her work at various events, including D Magazines D CEOs 2017 Womens Leadership Symposium. "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. 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. She took the material down when requested. No Reviews. An old profile, published on the parenting website DFWChild,states that she has a degree in international development from the University of Hawaii. The organization's tax-exempt status was revoked by the IRS earlier this year. 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. The U.S. embassy in the Philippines at the time dismissed the rumor as inaccurate. Naval Academy and served in the Marine Corps. 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. NBC News also found that her claims that she addressed both the Republican and Democratic conventions in 2016 are false. But before her humanitarian and government career, she was a singer. 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. Why only to 2015? He said, "I realized this is 100 percent bulls---. However, her LinkedIn profile provides details of her inflated career history. The research efforts we employ consist of utilizing a resiliency index in combination with big data to identify vulnerable communities at risk for violent extremism. We do not just provide rhetoric and philosophical thought; in fact, we go light on the philosophy. "They could be partnering with another organization, but then they should say that and not claim those accomplishments as their own.". Im proud that we have achieved so much, with so little except the love and time of our volunteers and supporters around the world. [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 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. Before she resigned last week and took it down, her Facebook account had 77,000 followers. Join the Observer community and help support Marocco declined to comment through a Pentagon spokesperson. 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. Also, though she claims to be a graduate of the Army War College, its representatives say she only attended a four-day seminar there. In her State Department post, Chang, 35, from Dallas, helps oversee efforts to prevent conflicts from erupting in politically unstable countries. 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. 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 . At one point in April 14, 2016, she posted more than 70 Instagram pictures in a single day. She earns a six-figure salary in a bureau with a $6 million budget. So, in advance, I apologize for the length of what follows, but I want to address each point that has been raised, to the best of my ability. Laura Strickler is a senior investigative producer and reporter for NBC News. 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. The charity responded, "No.". 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. In a 2015 speech, Chang said, "we have in-house canine search and rescue teams." 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. Some required paying a steep fee. Despite losing its charitable status, the organization continued to solicit donations on its website. at 12:23 pm, Mina Chang attends 2017 Women's Entrepreneurship Day at The United Nations on November 17, 2017 in New York City. 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. For those of you who are not familiar with me, I am not Mina. Mina Chang, 35, the deputy assistant . Each body has verified each and every one of her stated achievements. However, why would a low expenditure be a negative? One year Bulatao bid on an auction item that resulted in a $5,500 donation to the group, Dailey said. Her bio from 2013 read: "Her desire to alleviate suffering and inspire hope and joy around the world motivated her to retire from the music industry in order to work full time with disaster response teams and Linking the World.". 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. An international K-pop singer! 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. 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. The eldest of three daughters born to Salvation Army officers, Chang has Asian roots. "It was like trying to weave a narrative out of whole cloth," said someone familiar with Chang's nonprofit. "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.". Chang further claimed to have addressed presidential national conventions in 2016, but that was also found to be false. 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. 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. Upon notification, donations were not able to be submitted through any of our channels. A fake Time magazine cover with Mina Chang. "I signed an NDA regarding all conversations," she told NBC News. "I'm someone who gives someone the benefit of the doubt but everyone around me was questioning it," Posnick said. [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. But he added that Bulatao had no role in the organization. Mina Chang, 35, was appointed the deputy assistant secretary in the State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations in April. Update your Profile ; Education & Credentials. I am not the radiant light, the forever hopeful and passionate fighter of those who cant defend themselves. 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. Also Read:Douglas Emhoff Wiki, Facts To Know About Kamala Harris Husband. As terrifying as that was, working with her nonprofit served as a distraction and it appears that she has overcome the disease. That bio is still posted on the State Departments website at the time of this publication. Our research efforts blend together traditional approaches of a think tank with modern and future-leaning tools of a high-tech business intelligence firm. However, thats not mentioned in her LinkedIn profile. This discovery raises questions about her qualifications to work in the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. 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. local news and culture, Stephen Young While I share her beliefs and passions, Im far more willing to confront those with naive and ill-informed positions. NBC said no record of her UN work was found. The administration announced an intent to nominate her in late 2018. 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Before receiving the letter of recommendation, Chang was spotted at numerous events, including the 2018 Aspen Security Forum, with McCaul's staffer. 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. But when Harvard was asked if Chang had attended the university, a spokesperson told NBC News . I said, 'Pull the interns.'". 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. Spring 2023 Course. 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.. The spokesman also said that the State Department vetted her background, approved her security clearance along with the FBI, and signed off on her bio for the department's website. Dallas' independent source of Those included a former intern and a former senior development adviser for Linking the World, Michael Baker. In fact, Chang attended a short course at Harvard Business School that costs $82,000, although it does allow those who take it to call themselves alumni. The only educational institute NBC was able to find was not mentioned in Changs government biography, but was mentioned on her LinkedIn account. She didnt give up singing entirely. We must continue to work together, sharing information and acting as leading voices to elevate diplomacy and development alongside defense to build a stronger, better, and safer world for all. Minas nomination was not withdrawn by the Administration, or anyone other than herself. official government biography were refuted. Her biography on the State Department website says she is a "graduate" of a program at the Army War College. He is the founder of Nuru International, a social venture that primarily works in Kenya, Ethiopia, and the USA. Chang's appointment is the latest administration hire to come under scrutiny since President Donald Trump entered office. Lax vetting, Mina has undergone 4 independent agency reviews, including the FBI, and ultimately garnered both Top Secret and Sensitive Compartmented Information clearances. 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. By first helping others recognize why a stable and strong America is vital for global security, we will be able to make the case for a proactive national security, defense policy, and foreign policy rather than the more traditional reactive approaches of the past. 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. At no time has Mina claimed to have a degree from SMU. She continues to perform at charity events and released a holiday album in 2009. 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. She apparently is also a civilian graduate of the United States Army War College. Harvard University Affiliated Professors. "The White House goes into very great detail 'Have you ever been divorced, have you ever been arrested?'" Simply, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been rather busy with other activities and all nominees were subject to extensive delays. 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. The Humanitarian UAV Network UAViators does not mention Chang or Linking the World on a list of advisers. 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. His Ph.D. dissertation entitled "A Society's Crucible: Recasting the Criminal Defendant in Modern Egypt, 1820-1920" explores the . 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. The administration announced an intent to nominate her in late 2018. At first glance, Changs body of work appears impressive. 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. We take real scenarios based on concrete data to address the root drivers of instability and to effectuate action. Her information from the State Department mentions she is an "alumna" of Harvard Business School. Marocco, who served in the Marine Corps, is now at the Pentagon as senior official overseeing Africa affairs. For my unconquerable soul. W.E. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We have at least one geotagged photograph of Linking the Worlds participation on that Panel, along with its working documents. Mina Changs husband, Jake Harriman, is a graduate of the U.S. The Womens Leadership Steering Committee is chaired by Dr Anne Chaoand Paula W Hinton. Chang did not respond to a request for comment. 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. Chang represented the cover as genuine and replied: "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 and I suppose I brought some attention to that". Faculty Type. 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. But the program she attended was a four-day seminar on national security, according to the college. So, for clarity, Mina is very happily engaged to the ever so wonderful Jake Harriman. He said he has resubmitted the forms and expects the "administrative issue" to be resolved soon. So, to remove any and all suggestion of inappropriate action, the donation mechanisms have all been completely removed. ", "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. She is not the first White House official to put their face on a fake Time magazine cover. [emailprotected]. Several key claims in Changs official government biography were refuted. 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 . Her charity's website featured pictures of Chang in war-torn places with unnamed children. 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. Mina Chang (born October 29, 1984)[1] is an American singer, activist, and former government official. Mina E. Khalil is a legal and social historian of the modern Middle East. Minas resume, profiles, and statements have been reviewed by 4 separate bodies, including the FBI and State Department Investigators. Michelle Muscatello Leaving WPRI: Where Is the Rhode Island Meteorologist Going? Shame on you every outlet that picked up this story without doing your own research and merely surmised the erroneous positions of the original. The Panel in question was the Expert Panel for Humanitarian UAVs convened on November 14, 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In addition, Mina on the Common Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination Standards Advisory[committee] instituted by UN OHCA. We pilot new technologies, testing their practicalities, and seek to identify the 'unintended consequences' that are rife in our industry," Dailey told NBC News. "They should know how to properly report their program accomplishments and also address other required asks.". Mina Chang at Ground Zero event on Sept. 11, 2017. [10], On January 16, 2019, the Trump administration nominated Chang to be the Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. ", As to Chang's job history, he said, "I would expect that they would check all of the claims made in the bio, most of which would be relatively easy to check.". 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. 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. We save a lot of money that way.". An old profile on her states that she split time between her pop star life and humanitarian work. Visiting Professors. Our 2015, 990-tax filing indicated $10,000 of overseas spending. 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. Mina Chang and former CIA director David Petraeus in a 2017 Instagram photo. Apart from her Capitol Hill connection, Chang received support from Marocco at the State Department. Lecturers. [7] In her resignation letter, Chang claimed that "character assassination based solely on innuendo was launched against me attacking my credentials and character. Chang claimed that she is "an alumna of the Harvard Business School" who has "addressed . The now infamous Time magazine cover. This . In May 2013, Chang was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent chemotherapy for a year. Turner High School, Rep. Nate Schatzline, Under Fire for 'Drag' Video, Accused of 'Doxxing' Keller ISD Mom, A Carrollton High School Claims Employee Gave Student Prescription Drugs, Texas Bill Would Make Illegal Voting a Felony, City Council To Discuss Allowing Neighborhoods To 'Opt-In' for Short-Term Rentals in Dallas. He founded Nuru International. 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. 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. However, no official record of this exists. Chang attended a seven-week course at the college in 2016 but . A fake Time magazine cover with her face on it added credibility to her bio for at least some people who found it online. Ari Sen is a freelance journalist and former investigative unit intern at NBC News currently studying at UC Berkeleys Graduate School of Journalism. SHARON BURKE Senior Advisor and Director, Resource Security Program, New AmericaMINA CHANG CEO, Linking the World, International Security Fellow, New AmericaJAKE HARRIMAN Founder and CEO, Nuru InternationalREBECCA J. WOLFE Director of Peace and Conflict, Mercy CorpsThe Future of War Conference 2017 commenced on March 21 in Washington, D.C. "[7] However, she did attend a university in Hawaii called the University of the Nations, an unaccredited Christian educational institution that specializes in International Development or cross-cultural missions. Mina loves her position at State and decided to withdraw herself from the process to focus on stabilization operations. Dont Miss:Ashley Biden Wiki,Facts About Joe Bidens Daughter. [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. That year the organization reported to the IRS that it had only one employee. Whatever her qualifications, Chang had a key connection in the Trump administration. Mina Trinity Chang (born 1984) has deleted or switched to private her social profiles in the wake of the NBC News investigation. She was appointed to the State Department post in the interim. [11] The nomination was withdrawn on September 9, 2019. He was fired last year after a Washington Post report brought public attention to his meteoric rise. She stepped down from her Dallas-based nonprofit. Featured in the issue are notable community leaders such as Police Chief David Brown, NHL athlete Jamie Benn, and Historian Bonnie Jacobs. ", Mina Chang with Natalie Solis of Fox 4 News discussing the Boko Haram and her recent participation at the World Economic Forum, ABC award winning host Melanie Lawson and Mina Chang interview. Shame on you NBC for not requiring your reporters to do basic research. However, a spokesperson for Time confirmed to NBC News that the cover is not authentic.. "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. "[7][3], Mina Chang is married to Jake Harriman. Discussion with Assistant", "Who Is Mina Chang? We have never inferred this was a real magazine cover, nor that we were the creator of it. its this, right here. 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. The questions were not seeking to profile Mina or the organization, as any objective reporter would have done. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. 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. She was being considered for another government position overseeing a major budget when Congress began asking about her rsum. [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. Ian Dailey, former chief of staff of Linking the World, defended how the organization has presented itself publicly. independent local journalism in Dallas. We as a people need to be better than this, we need to hold reporters, politicians and ourselves to account. "If you take a look at it, the vetting process for the White House is very good," the president told reporters. McCaul cited her experience as a "seasoned field practitioner" and her work in "academia." Dont Miss:Chasten Glezman Wiki,Facts About Pete Buttigiegs Husband. The index we have created monitors social, economic, political, and military indicators that also encompass demographic pressures, poverty, human rights, uneven economic development, state legitimacy, and the security apparatus. She eventually got a foothold in Washington as a fellow with the New America think tank. At no time has Mina claimed to have a degree from the War College. At a 2018 awards dinner of defense contractors in Washington, Chang made a point of introducing herself to an official who she eventually would succeed at the State Department as a deputy assistant secretary, said a source who attended the event said. 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. She was raised in inner-city Atlanta, which shaped her beliefs about the importance of education.