Olivia Y. Hu

Olivia Y. Hu is a doctoral student in the Department of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her work focuses on race/ethnicity, assortative mating, and family formation. More specifically, Olivia's research agenda is motivated by two primary questions: (1) How do individuals come to select long-term committed partners, especially across racial and ethnic lines? (2) What happens to their understanding of racial/ethnic difference after they enter these cross-boundary unions?

Olivia's current research addresses these questions by examining the cultural and experiential factors that mediate Asian women's mating decisions. In a related study, she also explores how interracial/-ethnic relationships influence Asian women's racial politics.

Moreover, Olivia is spearheading two collaborative projects. With Alexander Adames, she explores the causal effect of educational attainment and educational prestige on mating outcomes. In collaboration with Dr. Wendy D. Roth and Dr. Xiang Lu, she examines how genetic ancestry test (GAT) takers conceptualize race. 

Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Olivia executed marketing campaigns at UBS and consulted on new product launches at Nielsen. She holds a B.S. in Sociology and Business Administration from New York University.