Jennie C. Chiu '91

Biography

Jennie Chiu’s commitment to higher education is rooted in her family’s legacy of service. From an early age, Chiu learned not only the transformative power of education but also the importance of supporting educational institutions in her community and beyond. During her senior year at Cornell, Chiu discovered a passion for volunteer service, development and fundraising through the Tower Club’s Senior Class effort.

As a young alumna, Chiu continued her engagement with Cornell by volunteering with the Cornell Alumni Association of Northern California and supporting initiatives for the School of Hotel Administration (now the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration) at Cornell University. Over the past 25 years, Chiu’s philanthropy and commitment to fundraising have benefitted institutions including the Cornell University College of Human Ecology, the Nolan School, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and Weill Medical College of Cornell University, as well as Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her work focuses on youth education, student mentorship, the arts and environmental conservation.

In her local community, Chiu has led development and fundraising efforts for annual funds and capital campaigns at Trinity School in Menlo Park and Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, California. From 2008 to 2016, Chiu served on the Priory board of trustees and the Founders Club annual fund committee. As a member of the Priory capital campaign leadership team, Chiu helped raise $9 million for campus improvements and also held multiple roles within the Priory parent association.

Recognized for her keen eye and development expertise, Chiu has contributed to several civic organizations, including serving on the steering committees for the San Francisco Symphony’s Chinese New Year Gala, the Arthritis Foundation annual fashion show, and the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital biannual gala.

“Service opens up a world of discovery. The Cornell Hotel School [Nolan School] taught me the fundamental skillsets that I use every day and that have made me successful in all of my volunteer opportunities. I am truly thankful for this amazing education.”

Chiu earned a Bachelor of Science in hotel administration from Cornell University in 1991 and joined the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Nolan School in 2016.