Jenny Zhang

Jenny Zhang ’09 had a lot of favorite places during her time on the Berkeley campus — “too many too count,” she says — but two worth mentioning are the art studios in Kroeber where she produced all of her art works, and the Credit Union for Berkeley Students where she met her future husband, Richard Zen (also ’09), when they were both volunteers there. If this seems like an eclectic pairing of activities, it is, and that’s at the heart of what Zhang loved about her undergraduate experience and what she still loves about being an alumni volunteer today. “I enjoyed being able to explore such a diversity of classes and activities through double majoring (in fine arts and business), taking random electives, and helping to run all sorts of student organizations — four years was way too short!”

The couple moved from the Bay Area to Hong Kong in 2011. Zen began volunteering for the Berkeley Club there in 2012 and Zhang joined him a year later “after meeting all the awesome committee members at our events.” She edits the club’s email newsletters and manages its social media platforms, catalyzing increased engagement on all channels, and in club membership overall.

“The biggest reward,” Zhang says, “definitely comes from meeting and working with so many Bears in the Hong Kong area. Even though we are all in different fields of work and have different personalities, we have a common thread linking us all together. It is such an honor to help weave together this strong, global network.”