Kal Penn is an American film actor and politician known for his starring roles in House and the Harold and Kumar franchise. Penn's passion for the intersection of pop culture, politics and race is evident throughout the trajectory of his career. In 2009, Penn annoucned he would temporarily leave acting to join the Obama administration as an Associate Director at the White House Office of Public Engagement. In his position, he focused on work related to "don't ask, don't tell," increasing financial aid, and bringing Americans back from Iraq. During his years at The Office of Public Engagement, Penn served as a liaison with Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, helping engage them in a variety of social initiatives. He returned to television in 2011 with a new role on the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and from 2016 to 2019 he played Seth Wright in the political drama Designated Survivor. Penn has also taught at the University of Pennsylvania in the Cinema Studies Program as a visiting lecturer.