Eugene Kang’s work has taken him from Ann Arbor to the campaign trail and the White House. Before those experiences, he was an Extemporaneous Speaking competitor at Greenhills School, where he reached the final round of the MIFA State Finals.
An Ann Arbor beginning
Kang grew up in Ann Arbor, the son of Korean immigrants, and attended the University of Michigan. His affection for his hometown has stayed with him. Speaking at the Ford School in 2022, he recalled that Michigan was the only university he applied to and that he named his dog Blue.
His interest in public service took shape locally, including a run for Ann Arbor City Council while he was a student. He went on to organize for Amy Klobuchar’s 2006 Senate campaign in Minnesota, then joined Barack Obama’s campaign in Chicago in 2007.
A place on the team
Kang began as a staff assistant. Colleagues came to know him as reliable and attentive to the campaign’s priorities, and he eventually joined the traveling team.
At the White House, he worked in special projects, scheduling and advance, and as a Special Assistant to the President and Traveling Aide. The work involved coordinating people, plans and communications at the center of a busy administration. He remained with Obama’s team through 2013.
In 2018, Kang returned to Greenhills to speak with students about his experiences on the campaign trail and in the White House.
Helping people prepare
Kang later joined the advisory firm Teneo, where his work has included corporate communications, public affairs and preparing leaders for hearings and testimony.
For Michigan Extemp students, that last part may sound familiar: learning a subject, anticipating questions and finding a clear way to explain it. Kang’s career offers one glimpse of the many places those interests can lead.
On record
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