Carl Zhang

Carl Zhang serves as Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems and Paul Engler Professor of Business Innovation at West Texas A&M University's Department of Computer Information and Decision Management within the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business. Joining in 2020, he teaches programming, social network analysis, and data visualization courses while leading research in privacy and machine learning applications.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, George Washington University (2020)
• M.S. in Computer Science, George Washington University (2017)
• B.S. in Information Management, Shandong Normal University (2015)

Dr. Zhang's research centers on social network privacy vulnerabilities, data science methodologies, and machine learning implementations. His work bridges theoretical security frameworks with business applications, particularly in deanonymization resistance, malware detection systems, and consumer trust modeling in digital marketplaces. Current investigations focus on federated learning optimization and psychological factors in AI-driven e-commerce.

Publication trends reveal increasing emphasis on practical security solutions, with recent work (2024-2025) addressing real-world challenges in data heterogeneity and malware classification. His output spans high-impact journals including IEEE Transactions and Journal of Computer Information Systems, demonstrating consistent contributions to both theoretical foundations and business applications.

Key recognitions include:

• Paul Engler Professor of Business Innovation (2024)
• College of Business Teaching Excellence Award (2023)

Dr. Zhang actively mentors 9-18 undergraduate students per term through structured projects like the ABET accreditation system and community initiatives. His $2,950 WTAMU Foundation grant (2022) supports IT knowledge dissemination via guest lectures and learning platforms. He leads student engagement through BuffTeks and Buff Analytics communities, fostering hands-on technical development.

Though without a formal lab, he cultivates research opportunities through course projects, competition mentorship (e.g., USITCC winners), and software development initiatives like the Program Assessment Reporting System deployed on WT's network infrastructure.