About

Who is Ed Hu?

I’ve never left school. Since the age of five, my “year” always starts in September (well, technically, now August) with the start of the academic year. After graduating from college over 38 years ago, I stayed in higher education, working in college admissions at Occidental College in Los Angeles and then back at Brown University, my alma mater. When I moved to the the secondary level in 1994, I became a college counselor and dean at Harvard-Westlake School, an independent day middle and upper school in Los Angeles. I’m currently the Head of External Relations, working closely with the advancement team, leadership team, and the board, focused on friend-raising and fundraising with all things related to Harvard-Westlake.

My love of food and eating started at an early age, growing up in my mom’s Chinese restaurant back in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. My brother and I spent most of our teen years at Hu’s Chinese Kitchen, a small joint with seven tables and takeout counter.

Today, I enjoy eating as well as cooking. My job involves a lot travel and meals, so I very much enjoy what I do. Los Angeles is also a wonderful place to live because of the broad range of cuisines, especially all things Asian; it’s home to some of the best Chinese, Japanese, and Korean food outside of Asia. While I enjoy cooking, my culinary skills are somewhat limited to the Chinese cuisine, given my upbringing. One of my favorite things to do is using my culinary skills for a good cause. The menu below is from an annual multi-course meal for 15 to 20 people that I offer as a fundraising event.

My volunteer work is also focused on education. I’m currently a board member of the Independent School Alliance in Los Angeles, supporting students of color access to private education opportunities. I’m also devoted to my alma mater where I’m a member of both the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity and the Advisory Council on Athletics at Brown University. In the past, I’ve also served in a number of volunteer leadership positions, including stints on the Brown Alumni Association Board of Governors, chairing the Multicultural Alumni Committee, and advising the Asian American Alumni Alliance and the Transgender, Bisexual, Gay & Lesbian Alumni Association. I’m also a former commissioner for the CASE Commission on Philanthropy.

I live in Silver Lake with my two cats, Freddy and Maxie. When I’m not working, eating, or traveling, I’m a news junkie (I still receive three print daily newspapers–NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and LA Times), film lover, and aspiring photographer. I’m distracted for much of the year playing in multiple fantasy baseball and football leagues. My mindless getaways include periodic Las Vegas trips for food, spa, and baccarat (I’m a recovering craps player). And I look forward to the day that I have the time again to read books cover-to-cover, as well as time to foster cats.