September faculty and staff features

Krzysztof J. Cios, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Computer Science
Cios, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science, has published a new book titled “Data Mining: A Knowledge Discovery Approach.” The comprehensive textbook details how data mining projects, which aim to analyze data and synthesize it into useful information, should be performed. Cios has written extensively about data mining in peer-reviewed publications and is the author of two other books about the subject, both of which were published by Springer Publishing.

Susan Williams White, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Treatment Center for Children
White, an assistant professor of psychiatry in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, has received nearly $635,000 in grant funding from the National Institute of Mental Health to develop a targeted behavioral therapy for treating children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder, ASD. The goal of this work is to help ASD children overcome anxiety and improve their social skill development. Children with autism spectrum disorders, which include autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder and pervasive developmental disorder — not otherwise specified, frequently struggle with debilitating anxiety in addition to core social skill deficits.

Yan Jin, Ph.D., assistant professor of public relations, VCU School of Mass Communications
Jin received a $7,320 grant from the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations at the University of Alabama for her study, “Emotional Leadership as a Key Dimension of Public Relations Leadership: A Strategic Conflict Management Perspective.” The Plank Center awards leadership grants annually to enhance understanding of the factors that contribute to effective and ethical leadership in public relations. Jin was one of two scholars awarded this year.