Irene Kao

Irene Kao serves as General Counsel at Minnesota Housing since November 2022, bringing extensive legal expertise and policy development experience. As an Adjunct Faculty Member at Mitchell Hamline School of Law since 2017, Irene teaches courses on Transactions and Settlements, enhancing students’ negotiation and contract drafting skills. Previously, Irene held various roles at the League of Minnesota Cities, starting as Staff Attorney and advancing to Intergovernmental Relations Counsel, where leadership in public policy development and member services was demonstrated. Additional experience includes serving as Deputy General Counsel for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and working at Goetz & Eckland, Macalester College, Social Justice Training Institute, and the University of New Hampshire. Education includes a JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, an MA in Higher Education Administration from the University of Maryland, and a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Minnesota.