Ashley Yu explores technology, teaching, and real-world connections

When Ashley Yu talks about her path into higher education, her story starts with family.

“Many of my family members are educators, so I’ve always loved this career path,” Yu said. “When I came to the United States to pursue my Ph.D. at Texas Tech, I knew I wanted to be a professor.”

Yu has followed that calling from her undergraduate days in management information systems through her master’s and doctorate work. What hooked her early on was the mix of technology and people—the way systems shape human connection.

Now, as a new faculty member in CMU’s College of Business Administration, she’s channeling that energy into the classroom. This fall, Yu is teaching business decision modeling and data visualization. Both courses emphasize practice over theory.

“My teaching philosophy is about real-world learning,” she said. “I want students to leave with skills they can apply after graduation, whether they’re working with healthcare data, finance data, or another field entirely.”

Yu’s research mirrors her classroom approach: practical, curious, and people-centered. Her earlier work studied how users respond to technology—looking not only at satisfaction or frustration, but also the mixed feelings people often hold about new tools. More recently, she has explored AI voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Home, and how their human-like qualities—such as empathy, responsiveness, and tone—change how people engage.

“Every technology has both a bright side and a dark side,” Yu explained. “It’s important to understand the full picture, including those moments of ambivalence.”

That balanced perspective is exactly what she brings to CMU. She wants students to graduate confident in their technical skills, but also thoughtful about the human side of business technology.

Yu previously taught at Ball State University before making the move to Michigan. She and her family are settling in, already enjoying local favorites like Uncle John’s Cider Mill.

As she looks ahead, Yu is eager to collaborate with colleagues and students alike. “My goal is to help students learn and succeed,” she said. “I’m always open to working together on new ideas.”