penny hu standing in front of rose bush

Spider junior fuses business and technology to serve others

May 20, 2022

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Penny Hu, a junior, plans on a lifetime of service. She is the latest Spider recipient of the Newman Civic Fellowship, a yearlong program that aims to foster personal, professional, and civic growth. 

“I am very passionate about serving my community and creating a safe and inclusive community for all of us,” Hu said.

As 2021-2022 president of Westhampton College, Hu has dedicated her time at UR to serving the student body and the greater Richmond community. She recently completed an internship with Habitat for Humanity off-campus.

“I enjoy doing things to help people around me, whether that is something small like handing out a goodie bag to someone to see a smile on their face or meeting with the Board [of Trustees] to advocate for student causes,” Hu said.

Hu, a double major in computer science and business, is passionate about using technology to make a difference in the world and hopes to pursue a career focused on solving problems and affecting change. She spent the summer after her freshman year researching cybersecurity by testing the vulnerability of voice processing systems.

"We live in a world dominated by technology," Hu said. "I want to find ways to use it to solve global problems."

The Newman Civic Fellowship is awarded to students who have demonstrated a capacity for leadership and an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country.  

“I hope to use these great opportunities coming with the fellowship to learn more from students who are just as passionate about their community as I am and share with them my experience as a part of the Richmond community,” Hu said. “I think this fellowship opportunity will bring me chances to connect with students from all over the country and gain more insights about how to serve my community better in the future.”