SheTech Interns Interview Xinru Page
BYU Professor Xinru Page blends industry experience and academic research to explore how technology impacts society—mentoring students and designing tools that protect privacy and human well-being.
People & Culture
Coding with Conscience: Xinru Page’s Mission to Make Tech More Human
Provo, Utah — May 5, 2025
Xinru Page, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Brigham Young University, has built a career around one key question: how does technology shape human relationships and social behavior? Whether mentoring graduate students, teaching undergrads, or publishing research, Page is focused on building technology that serves users while minimizing harm.
At BYU, her role balances three main areas: teaching, service to the department, and scholarly research. She also serves as a graduate coordinator, supporting students through the challenges of academic life. Her research centers on social technologies, privacy, tech adoption, and the needs of vulnerable populations.
Interestingly, Page didn’t start out in computer science. She originally planned to major in English, drawn to literature and storytelling. But an introductory programming class changed everything. She discovered a surprising passion for code and a creative, problem-solving world in human-computer interaction (HCI).
After earning a master’s degree in HCI at Stanford University, she worked in the tech industry as a software engineer, interaction designer, and product manager. One of her early projects had almost no direction, which turned out to be a gift. “I started with paper prototypes,” said Page. “I literally drew out what the screen was going to look like. It’s a nice, quick way to iterate. Pencils and paper are traditional tools, but they help you get feedback fast and make smarter decisions about what to build.”
Her time in industry wasn’t just about design—it also taught her how real-world constraints shape product development. She worked in the information risk space, where managing different versions of documents was a major challenge. “You don’t want people working off an old version and not realizing it,” she explained. “And sometimes, what makes sense technically isn’t what the customer values. You learn to balance.”
What ultimately brought her back to academia was concern—especially as a parent—about how tech affects people’s lives. One moment that stuck with her was a conversation with a colleague whose teenage son couldn’t sleep because his phone kept lighting up with notifications. “That just hit me,” she said. “What kind of world are my kids going to grow up in? Technology that literally keeps them from sleeping?” That concern led her to study the impact of social tech on privacy and mental well-being, particularly for vulnerable groups.
In her research lab at BYU, Page and her students tackle human-centered problems—from online safety to digital literacy. “There’s no way I could do this on my own,” she said, emphasizing how much she values her students' energy and insight. One recent undergraduate even led a Tier 1 publication. “What I love most is the sense of community,” she added. “We support each other—not just in research, but as people.”
Page is especially proud to be graduating her first PhD student this year. She hopes to mentor many more, preparing them for careers in academia or industry. She’s passionate about involving undergraduates in research, too: “Most of my lab is undergrads. Giving them the chance to contribute to serious work really matters.”
As BYU works toward its vision of building an “Everest of Education,” Page exemplifies a model where strong research and great teaching can go hand in hand. Her work is a reminder that technology isn’t just about what we can build—it’s about what kind of world we want to live in.
SheTech Media Interns, Siya Jain and Rumaana Patel, attend Cedar Valley High School in Eagle Mountain, Utah. They actively participate in SheTech programs, including the SheTech-TechBuzz Media Internship for which they interview and write about Women Tech Awardees. Their work is published on TechBuzz News, Silicon Slopes, and other media channels.
Siya wants become a successful entrepreneur. Always seeking opportunities to expand her knowledge of business, Siya is committed to building her entrepreneurial skills through hands-on experiences such as networking, writing, and education. She serves as the SheTech president of her school. She is also a student board member.
Rumaana is similarly passionate about technology and dreams of launching her own business. She is working toward a career in software engineering, taking advanced programming courses to strengthen her skills. Outside of coding, she has been dancing for eight years, a pursuit that fosters both discipline and joy. She also enjoys sketching and reading, which fuel her creativity and curiosity.