Dr. Yu Wu - CREP
About Dr. Yu Wu
Dr. Yu Wu is a Research Assistant Professor at the Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP) at The University of Memphis. She earned her Ph.D. from The State University of New York at Buffalo, where her dissertation employed a multilevel moderated mediation model using PISA, a large-scale international dataset, to examine how teacher behaviors mediate the relationship between school instructional leadership and student learning. Beyond this work, her research also explores how professional learning communities and teacher attitudes vary under different school leadership practices in suburban versus urban contexts.
With a strong foundation in quantitative and mixed-methods research, Dr. Wu designs rigorous evaluation studies—including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental designs, and longitudinal studies—and applies advanced statistical techniques such as multilevel structural equation modeling, hierarchical linear modeling, and meta-analysis. She also conducts site-based qualitative data collection, designs surveys and interview protocols, and produces academic reports that support continuous improvement and long-term impact. Currently, Dr. Wu leads and co-leads evaluation efforts on multiple federally funded projects supported by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program. These national initiatives aim to improve educational outcomes in areas such as literacy tutoring, school counselor preparation, full-service community school models, English learner support, and reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals. Across all her projects, Dr. Wu is committed to generating actionable, evidence-based insights to inform policy and practice in education and beyond.
Education
Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 2023;
Ed.M. in Educational Leadership and Policy, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 2018;
B.A. in Japanese Language Education, Qufu Normal University, 2016.