Yu Bao

Yu Bao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Graduate Psychology at James Madison University (JMU) and serves as an Assistant Assessment Specialist in the Center for Assessment and Research Studies (CARS). She joined JMU in 2019 and holds a Ph.D. in Quantitative Methodology from the University of Georgia, an M.S. and B.S. in Statistics from Beijing Normal University. Her scholarly interests include diagnostic classification modeling, computerized adaptive testing, and psychometric methods. She leads the Program Assessment Support Services (PASS) in CARS, collaborating with four graduate students to support JMU’s academic program reviews, assessment reporting, and faculty development workshops.

Her research focuses on advancing assessment methodologies in education and neuroscience, including applications of machine learning in brain connectivity analysis and large language model evaluation. She has contributed to studies on child behavioral risk assessment, self-regulated learning in MOOCs, and cross-cultural analyses of educational barriers. Yu Bao’s work bridges statistical theory with practical educational challenges, emphasizing the ethical and technical dimensions of AI-driven assessment systems.

Her publications span neuroimaging data analysis (e.g., functional connectivity networks in human and macaque brains) and educational assessments (e.g., validation of behavioral screening tools in Chinese schools, OER adoption barriers). She actively engages in interdisciplinary collaborations, addressing topics like gender disparities in creativity identification and AGI ethics. Yu Bao’s role in CARS ensures alignment between institutional assessment practices and academic excellence, particularly during disruptions like the pandemic.