Chong Ho "Alex" Yu PH.D.
College of Natural and Computational Sciences - Department of Mathematics
Professor and Program Director of Data Science
Education:
- Ph.D. in Measurement, Statistics and Methodological Studies, Arizona State University
- Ph.D. in Philosophy, Arizona State University
- M.A. in Theology, Azusa Pacific University
- M.Ed. in Educational Psychology, University of Oklahoma
- MHR in Human Relations, University of Oklahoma
- B.S. in Mass Communication, Bemidji State University
- B.A. in Visual Arts, Bemidji State University
- Graduate Certificate in Public Health, University of Arizona
- Graduate Certificate in Liberal Studies, Hamline University
- Certificate in History and Philosophy of Science, Arizona State University
Courses Taught:
- MATH 1130: Statistics
- MATH 1150: Pre-Calculus
- MATH 3460: Probability
Professional Interests:
Dr. Yu is highly interested in data science and machine learning (DSML). As the Vice President for Statistics Education and the President-elect of the Southern California Chapter of the American Statistical Association (SCASA), he enthusiastically shares the latest trends and news about data science and machine learning with the research community. He disseminates this through a weekly newsletter and by managing the statistics and data science newsroom on the SCASA’s website: https://community.amstat.org/scasa/newsroom
Teaching Interests/Research:
As an educator, Dr. Yu is committed to ensuring himself to stay up-to-date in the field so that he can provide students with the latest skills needed for careers and research. To accomplish this goal, he continuously seeks to evolve his own knowledge by attending conferences and workshops run by top data analytics companies like SAS Institute, Salesforce (Tableau), and Amazon Web Services. He also maintains connections with industry professionals to understand which methodologies are most in-demand. Dr. Yu believes this dedication to reinvention is crucial for empowering faculty to equip learners with cutting-edge, real-world expertise.
Dr. Yu is a three-time winner of the SAS faculty scholarship (2016, 2017 SAS Global Forum and 2017 Western Users of SAS Software Conference). In addition, he also won the Distinguished SAS Educator Award in 2021.
His research interests include, but are not limited to, alternate and emerging research methods (e.g., DSML, exploratory data analysis, data visualization, and item response theory), philosophical aspects of research methodologies (e.g., causal inferences, the nature of latent constructs, and abductive reasoning), and cross-cultural comparison in STEM education (e.g., Program for International Student Assessment [PISA], Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies [PIAAC], and Trends for International Math and Science Study [TIMSS]).
He authored many books and articles on these topics. His recent publications on these topics are Data mining and exploration: From traditional statistics to modern data science (2022, CRC Press), Creating changes in science and math education: Lessons from Hong Kong (2020, Springer, coauthor: H. S. Lee), AI and Psychology (in press, Oxford University Press), and Machine learning for analyzing the relationship between well-being and academic performance with large-scale assessment Data (in press, Springer). His research articles can be accessed at:
- Author’s own website: http://www.creative-wisdom.com/pub/pub.html
- Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=mdGny3EAAAAJ&hl=en
- Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/author/Chong-Ho-Yu/4557614
- Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chong-Ho-Yu
Teaching Interests/Research:
Hiking, photography, travel
