Ivan K. Fong Named to Top Homeland Security Post

Ivan K. Fong, a participant in one of 80-20 Educational Foundation's projects, has been nominated to be Homeland Security General Counsel. In related news, Alice Huang, an 80-20 Board Member, was just elected president-elect of AAAS. AAAS publishes Science magazine and is one of the nation's most prestigious science organizations.

Betsy Kim is White House Liaison to Defense

Betsy Kim, deputy director of the Obama campaign to draw the Asian American vote, was named liaison between the White House and executive agencies last January, according to Politico’s Ben Smith’s blog. Smith noted the job traditionally has “a strong political element,” noting 22 of the 24 liaisons named were former campaign staffers.

NY's Newest Senator Speaks Chinese

AAA-Fund Newsletter reported that the New York Times published an interesting profile of Senator Kristin Gillibrand (D, NY), who replaced Senator Hillary Clinton, now the Secretary of State. Senator Kristin studied in Asia during her college days at Dartmouth and speaks fluent Mandarin. The article also noted the fast-growing power of the Asian American vote.

Top Post for CNN’s Sanjay Gupta?

ATLANTA, Georgia–Neurosurgeon and CNN's chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta was approached by then President-elect Obama for the post of surgeon general, CNN reported in January. The report cited two Democrats as sources, who said Gupta was under consideration for the post, but added no final decision has been made. CNN said Gupta hosts “House Call” on its cable network and teaches at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Julie Koo Represents D.C. Chancellor

Julie Koo, head of the Mayor’s Office of Asian Pacific Islander Affairs, represented D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee at the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) at the APIASF Community Reception, held on Feb. 10 here in the District. She read Chancellor Rhee’s message to the scholars and assembled guests. She recalled, to laughter by the audience, that in 2007-2008, people used to mistake her for the chancellor, saying, “We really love what you do.” Julie usually represents D.C. Mayor Fenty in community events, where a mistaken identity is unlikely to occur.

Yahoo’s Kim Moy at ‘Future is Now’ Workshop

LOS ANGELES, California–The Maynard Institute, in partnership with the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California, will hold "The Future is Now" workshop on March 6 at the Annenberg School here. Speakers will include Yahoo! managing editor Kim Moy and Susan Mernit, manager of the Knight News Challenge and a co-founder of People's Software. Career coaches Larry Olmstead and Rafael Gonzalez will help participants inventory their skills, think through their career and life goals and develop a strategy for success. The fee is $75 (includes breakfast and lunch). For more information and application form, please email Agata Lowell at alowell@maynardije.org

Jason Wu, Designer of First Lady’s Gown

New York designer Jason Wu got a huge career boost when First Lady Michelle Obama wore a gown he designed at the inaugural balls. Wu, who is just in his 20s, unveiled his Fall 2009 collections on Feb. 13. Earlier, Vanity Fair’s Christopher Barnard noted Wu wants to “create a collection that’s optimistic.” He also commented, “Heading into the fall collections ahead of the pack…is a welcome position for any designer.”

Asian Americans Support Sgt. Lily Yep for Top HPD Spot

HOUSTON, Texas–The Organization of Chinese Americans of Greater Houston has expressed its unequivocal support of Sgt. Lily Yep to take the position of Assistant Police Chief of the Houston Police Department, vacated by Norman Wong. It has also urged other Asian Americans here to join in its support for Sergeant Yep. It voiced its support for Yep to take the department’s second top post in a letter sent to Mayor Bill White, Police Chief Harold Hurtt, and the Houston City Council. The letter urged Houston ’s leaders to recognize Sgt. Yep’s accomplishments and long history of service in the HPD.

“It’s so rare that we see an Asian American woman serve in high positions of government,” says OCAGH President Victoria Ma. In her 31 years of service, Yep has risen from a patrol officer to become the Chief of Staff to former Assistant Chief Wong.

Adds Gene Wu of the OCAGH’s Board of Directors: “The most qualified person for the job is already there, Chief Hurtt just has to change a few words in her title.”

Maureen Sebastian in ‘Soul Samurai’

NEW YORK–Asian American Maureen Sebastian stars in “Soul Samurai,” by Qui Nguyen and directed by Robert Ross Parker in a presentation by OBIE award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company, which teams up with the NYIT award-winning Vampire Cowboys for Soul Samurai. “Soul Samurai” is the story of Dewdrop “and her fight through the mean streets of post-apocalyptic Brooklyn.” It plays till March 15 at Here Arts Center (145 6th Avenue, between Spring and Broome Streets, New York, NY 10013). For tickets, visit www.ma-yitheatre.org , or call 1(212) 352-3101.

Caregiver Rose Nakamura in AARP’s ‘10 Who Inspire’

AARP magazine, the publication for the nation’s retired people, named Hawaii’s Rose Nakamura, 80, in its list of “Ten Who Inspire.” The magazine described her as a compassionate caregiver. In 1989, Rose founded Project Dana, when she noticed many elderly members, unable to continue driving, had stopped going to the services at her Buddhist temple in Oahu. Today, Project Dana connects volunteers with some 1,000 senior citizens. AARP’s list included actress and mental health advocate Glenn Close, transportation activist Katherine Freund and record tycoon Quincy Jones.