Frank So comes to Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) directly from the Office of the Vice President at the White House. As a Vice-Presidential Associate, he frequently traveled with the Vice President, advising her office on trips outside the continental United States. He previously worked for President Obama as a Presidential Associate, where he traveled in advance of the President to help ensure effective state functions on the ground.
For over a decade, Frank served as a U.S. diplomat in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Northern and East Africa. Most recently, he was the Senior Mission Advisor with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Colombia and Senior Human Rights Advisor for USAID in Honduras.
Before working with the government, Frank served with the United Nations in Darfur, Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. His last post with the U.N. was as the Darfur Officer in Charge for the International Organization of Migration.
Throughout his career, Frank has specialized in strategy, policy, and coordinating various agencies as they address challenges related to conflict and human migration. Working with refugee and immigrant populations has been one of Frank’s lifelong passions. He is eager to apply this experience to EMO’s refugee and immigration work.
Frank holds a master’s degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Ulster and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Seattle University, where he served as the student body president.
A lifelong Catholic, Frank was educated by Jesuits in Portland, Ore. He is pleased to come “home” to the Pacific Northwest. Fluent in Spanish, Frank is a first generation American—his mother was born in Peru and his father in Thailand.