2022 Roundtable Series: U.S. Government Accountability Office

The AANHPI Roundtable Series provides an opportunity for students and young professionals to learn from public service leaders in our community in an intimate and conversational setting for one hour. Each roundtable features public service leaders from one organization and accommodates 25-30 attendees. This year, CAPAL is launching a series of monthly Roundtable discussions. These events will be held on a virtual platform. Registration is FREE for all attendees.

This session will feature the U.S. Government Accountability Office with Kris Nguyen and Karen Chen.

GAO, often called the “congressional watchdog,” is an independent, non-partisan agency that works for Congress. GAO examines how taxpayer dollars are spent and provides Congress and federal agencies with objective, non-partisan, fact-based information to help the government save money and work more efficiently. We support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities, and help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government. We provide Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, nonideological, and balanced.

Speakers

Kris Nguyen | Director

Kris Nguyen serves as a Director on the Education, Workforce, and Income Security (EWIS) team. During the executive candidate program, Ms. Nguyen served as an Acting Director on the Strategic Issues (SI) team and led work on a range of topics, including reviews of data on federal fees, fines, and penalties; demand for Treasury securities; and the Paperwork Reduction Act. Ms. Nguyen testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on regulatory and budget issues. She is leading an effort to enhance clarity of GAO writing and build competency around cause. Prior to being selected for the executive candidate program, Ms. Nguyen served as an Assistant Director in EWIS and led work that examined access and affordability issues in higher education. Her work has resulted in over $31 billion in financial savings, and improved services for student loan borrowers and military veterans receiving education benefits. In 2007 and 2008, as a detailee to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Ms. Nguyen worked on student loan issues. She has also contributed to several institutional stewardship activities including recruiting and hiring; fundraising for GAO’s Combined Federal Campaign; and strategic planning for EWIS. Ms. Nguyen received numerous distinctions during her GAO career including a Managing Director Award in 2005, Meritorious Service Awards in 1994, 2007, and 2014, and Results through Teamwork Awards in 2014 and 2019. She joined GAO in 1989 and spent several years working in the Philadelphia Field Office, and rejoined the agency in 2002. Prior to rejoining GAO in 2002, Ms. Nguyen served for a number of years as an auditor at the U.S. Department of Education. Ms. Nguyen graduated from Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Karen Chen | Analyst and Co-Chair

Karen is an Analyst in the Government Accountability Office’s Natural Resource and Environment team. She has worked on issues related to preparing and responding to the effects of climate change and federal support for outdoor recreation programs and water infrastructure. Karen has been involved with the Asian American Liaison Group for three years, first as a Project Coordinator and now as the Co-Chair of Operations. Prior to working at GAO, Karen was a Research Analyst at the World Resources Institute, researching the effects of nonfederal climate policies. Karen holds a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington. Additionally, Karen received her BA in Integrative Biology and minored in music at the University of California, Berkeley. Outside of GAO, Karen is a yoga instructor and enjoys running, baking, and reading.