Accomplished Faculty Both Inside and Outside the Classroom

Meet Dr. Penny Pence Smith
Professor of Communication and Business Administration

Dr. Penny Smith holds her Master’s degree from USC and earned her PhD in Mass Communication and Research from the University of North Carolina.  Dr. Smith teaches courses in marketing, advertising and public relations, and brings a wealth of practical experience to HPU’s College of Business Administration.

As a founder of her own marketing and public relations company, Dr. Smith views the classroom as a place to develop the knowledge and drive needed to get your hands dirty in the real world.  Her professional experience includes National Director of Corporate Communication at Grubb & Ellis, and West Coast Bureau Manager and Correspondent for The New York Times Special Features Syndicate.  Dr. Smith uses her professional expertise to enhance the classroom and show students how to get things done in the real world.

Outside the classroom, Dr. Smith envelops herself into the heart and soul of Hawaiian culture through Hula.  As a keen student to all forms of dance including jazz, ballet, and hip-hop, Dr. Smith has taught and performed all forms of dance.  However, at the end of the day, she comes back to her roots from the Big Island of Hawai‘i to continue her passion for Hula dancing and its contribution to both the musical and cultural community of Hawai’i.