Kal Penn (kalpenn.com) is an actor\, write r\, producer\, and former Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. He is known for his starring roles in Designated Surviv or\, House\, Mira Nair&rsquo\;s The Namesake\, the Harold &\; Kumar fra nchise\, and the Christmas comedy The Santa Clauses for Disney+. His first book You Can&rsquo\;t Be Serious was released on Novembe r 2\, 2021 from Simon and Schuster/Gallery Books. He also narrates the aud iobook.
\nHe was a national co-chair for the Obama/Biden re-election campaign in 2012 and served on the President&rsquo\;s Committee for the A rts and Humanities\, focusing on arts education and cultural diplomacy\, i ncluding the first-ever US Government arts delegation to Cuba. Penn taught courses at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Californi a\, Los Angeles. Originally from New Jersey\, he received his undergraduat e degree in sociology\, theater\, film\, and television at the University of California\, Los Angeles\, and received a graduate certificate in inter national security from Stanford University. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations\, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences .
\nEarlier in the year\, Penn wrapped production on the Bloomberg G reen climate change docuseries\, Getting Warmer\, and the Viacom/Paramount + comedy\, Surina &\; Mel. Following the departure of Trevor Noah from The Daily Show\, Kal was named as an up coming guest host.
\nKal Penn will be joined in conversation with Br idget Petrites\, Evanston Public Library.
\nThis event will be recorded and available to view for 14 days.
\nThis event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present\, a statewide collaboratio n among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library\, a department of the Offic e of Secretary of State\, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Mu seum and Library Services\, under the provisions of the Library Services a nd Technology Act (LSTA). ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations\, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.c om.
\nAdditional funding provided by the Downers Grove Public Librar y Foundation. DGPLF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to prov iding extraordinary enhancements to the library beyond traditional expense \;and taxpayer support.
\nContact the Adult and Teen Services D esk at ATS@dglibrary.org \;or call (630) 960-1200 with questions.
\ nParticipant Zoom instructions:
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