College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Yue Zhang, PhD

  • Evaluation Studies

Yue Zhang

Areas of interest

  • Theory-driven evaluation application
  • Community-based participatory research & evaluation
  • Ethnic minorities' success in STEM education
Degrees
  • PhD, Evaluation Studies, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2023
  • MA, Public Policy, University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, December 2015
  • BA, International Politics & International Trade & Economics, University of International Business and Economics, June 2013
Biography

My name is Yue Zhang, an international student from China. My research interest focuses on underrepresented minority STEM transfer students’ persistence and graduation. I am also interested in cultural factors that influence Chinese evaluator’s identification and practice. I have participated in many community-based research and evaluation projects in diverse cultural contexts. I have been a graduate research assistant at the North Star STEM Alliance (NSSA), the Center for Urban and Regional Affair (CURA), and the UMN Extension. I believe that research should be applied in action, and theory-based and participatory evaluation approaches improve the value of programs and their social impact. Outside of class, I am a Latin Dance lover and the vice president at the International Latin Dance Club at UMN. In my spare time, I provide counseling services for Chinese students who are pursuing postgraduate degrees in social sciences in the United States.

Awards

  • Educational Evaluation and Policy Studies Fellowship, 2020
  • Mary Corcoran Endowed Fellowship in Evaluation and Policy Studies, 2019
  • Minnesota Evaluation Association 2019 AEA conference Scholarship, 2019
Publications

Zhang, Y., Hornickel, A., & Garrick, S. (Manuscript submitted for publication). Factors influencing the retention and graduation of underrepresented minority STEM transfer students. Journal of STEM Education.

Messer, C. C., Zhang, Y., & Koerte, T. (2018). Work campers as a resource to address regional workforce needs: an exploratory study of potential opportunities and constraints for Cass and Crow Wing counties. Online publication by the University of Minnesota Conservancy.

Zhang, Y. (2019). Community-led Program Design to Address the Changing Local Demands: an exploratory study of community members’ perspectives of community development and the Promise Neighborhood’s role. Online publication by the University of Minnesota Conservancy.

Zhang, Y. (2019). 2018–2019 Garlic Festival Program Evaluation. Online publication by the University of Minnesota Conservancy.

Presentations

Wingert, D., Mendenhall, T., … Zhang, Y., Wick, S. (2020, February). Students’ Perspectives regarding Well-being and Course-related Stress. Conference on Academic Research in Education (CARE) annual conference, Las Vegas, NV.

Zhang, Y., Matthias, C., & Zhang, L. (2019, November). Yin and Yang: cultural influences on evaluator: identity and practice in China. Multi-paper session presented at the American Evaluation Association (AEA) annual conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Zhang, Y., Hornickel, A., & Garrick, S. (2019, April). Retention in STEM: affecting diversity in academia. Breakout session presented at the annual meeting of Keeping Our Faculty Symposium, Minneapolis, MN.

Van de Ligt, J. L. G., Zhang, Y., & Lee, S. (2018, October). Blockchain technology and the potential applicability in the feed industry. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Animal Health Association, Kansas City, MO.

Zhang, Y., Gutierrez, R., & Hwang, A. (2016, June). Bicultural Active Living Lifestyle Program Effect in Reducing Crime Rates among Students of Color in MN. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Promoting Health Equity Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Zhang, Y., Gutierrez, R., & Hwang, A. (2016, May). Bicultural Active Living Lifestyle Program Effect in Reducing Crime Rates among Students of Color in MN. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Dr. Daniel S. Blumenthal Public Health Summit, Atlanta, GA.

Trahan, L., Zhang, Y., Shrestha, R., Sium, A., & Adaboh A. (2015, April). Community Responsive Care: Addressing Maternal & Child Health within Somalia. Paper presented at the University of Minnesota IPID Student Research Forum, Minneapolis, MN.