Actor Kal Penn will soon go from White Castle to the White House.
The actor, known for his roles in movies such as Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and in television on House, will join the Obama team as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison, said White House spokesman Shin Inouye. Penn will not be acting while he is working at the White House, Inouye said.
Penn, who is of Indian descent, will be connecting President Barack Obama with the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and with arts groups such as the Southern Arts Federation and the New England Foundation for the Arts, Inouye said.
Penn was an ardent supporter of Obama during the presidential campaign. He visited Penn State in September and November and canvassed with students.
"He clearly put in his time and showed his dedication to changing the country during the campaign," said Sean Meloy, president of Penn State College Democrats. "If he's going to politics full time, I don't think that's a bad thing at all. Once you get it in your system, it's hard to get it out."
White House employees with similar titles earned between $41,000 and $91,000 last year, according to The Associated Press.
Jordan De Acosta (sophomore-information sciences and technology) said he is disappointed Penn won't be acting in the near future, but he thinks Penn is a good choice for the position.
"Going from something like that to working in the White House is definitely interesting," he said. "I could see him doing well in that position."
Krystin Arrabito (sophomore-public relations) said she thinks the actor might have trouble convincing people he is serious about politics.
"It's going from one extreme to the other in terms of professional fields," she said.
Inouye said Penn's background and skills qualify him for the position.
"If you look at his personal background in the arts, certainly he's well-rounded and well-respected in that regard," Inouye said, adding that Penn has lectured about Asian-American issues at the University of Pennsylvania.
