She moved to the United States to attend the University of Southern California, where she completed certification in pediatric dentistry in 1988 and earned a doctorate in craniofacial biology in 1990.
Between 1993 and 2002, Hu was affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio's Department of Pediatric Dentistry.
[1][2] Hu was named Charlotte Mistretta's successor as director of the school's Oral Health Sciences Ph.D. program in 2010.
[3] Hu was elevated to lead the Biologic and Materials Sciences and Prosthodontics Department in 2018.
[4] In 2022, Hu replaced Laurie McCauley as dean of the dentistry school on an interim basis.