Kal Penn appointed by Obama to President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

You may think of Kal Penn more from Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, than the White House, but the actor will be taking on a new role on an arts panel. President Obama appointed Penn to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), the Associated Press reports. The comedic actor has played more serious roles with House, and more serious parts in general, taking a real role as Associate Director in the White House's Office of Public Engagement. Penn's speech at the Democratic National Convention mixed humor with the bigger message to stay engaged as a voter, particularly to the young crowd. 

Obviously it was seen as a success. In July, Penn was invited to the White House in the company of comedienne Amy Poehler and singer and actress Jennifer Hudson. Together, they promoted Obama's health care law. Penn is considered a producer and civil servant in addition to his acting. In 2011 he did leave his Associate Director role in the Office of Public Engagement to play a role on How I Met Your Mother, then returned again. He's been balancing these roles for awhile, starting with helping out Obama's presidential campaign in 2007. 

Penn was recently on a 2013 CBS comedy series We Are Men with Jerry O'Connell, Tony Shalhoub and Christopher Nicholas Smith. It was cancelled this fall.

We can expect to see more great social and political work done by Penn in the meantime while we await his next acting role. What character could you see him playing next?