JR Kuo, MA

JR inspires people to make positive changes in their lives. He is a national speaker, trainer, and coach who inspires people to make positive changes in their lives. He is also the founder of CoffeeWithJR, a company that specializes in providing culturally competent mental health and diversity/inclusion training. JR has over 15 years of experience in professional speaking. He has trained college students and professionals on mental health at over 50 universities and dozens of organizations across the country. JR is also an instructor for Mental Health First Aid. As a diversity/inclusion trainer, JR has facilitated numerous DEI workshops for Fortune 500 companies, as well as locally for companies. He has taught at the University of Colorado at Boulder on leadership, cultural competency, and mental health. In addition to being a professional speaker, JR has 10 years of experience managing and running nonprofit organizations and small businesses.

As an immigrant who has struggled with the immigration system, JR is passionate about advocating for immigration reform and supporting immigrants in the United States. JR’s mental health journey as an immigrant is featured in a short documentary called “Coffee Talking Out of Mental Coffins,” and in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Asian American Policy Review.

In 2023, JR published his first research paper as one of the authors of “International Student Identities and Mental Well-Being,” a book that strives to provide valuable insights on international students’ mental well-being based on research, promising practices, and practitioners’ experiences.

With 20 years of experience in speaking, facilitating, and giving, JR specializes in 16 key mental health topics and has delivered over 500 mental health workshops and training sessions.

With 20 years of experience in social justice, JR specializes in over 24 key DEI topics and has delivered hundreds DEI workshops and training sessions.

JR is a published author of “International Student Identities and Mental Well-Being: Beyond the Single Story,” STAR Scholars Network (March 2023). In addition, JR has self-published over 50 blogs/articles. 

JR is the director and owner of Storytelling Theater Production’s Red Doors and 27. Fourteen Storytelling Theater shows have been performed. In addition, JR has over twenty years of experience as stage actor, improv actor, and director.