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Impending Winter Storm

Due to the impending storm, all classes and activities at Kean’s main campus in Union, Kean Ocean and Kean Skylands will operate remotely on Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26. 

The University will observe a Winter Wellness Day on Tuesday, January 27, following the storm. Classes and activities will not run, and employees are not expected to work. 

Due to ongoing power problems at the Kean Ocean Gateway Building, all classes and activities at Kean Ocean will also be conducted remotely on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24. This only applies to Kean Ocean. 

Only essential personnel should report to work as scheduled during the remote period or on Tuesday. Employees with questions about their status should consult their supervisor. 

Keanu’s Kitchen will remain open for residential students on the Union campus from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday. 

All vehicles parked on the Union campus must be relocated to the Vaughn-Eames overnight parking lot by 6 p.m. on Saturday to allow for storm cleanup. Vehicles parked elsewhere on campus are subject to relocation. 

Kean Associate Professor Spearheading New Research Using AI in Leadership Performance Evaluation

Nov 26, 2025
Weichun Zhu

Kean University's Weichun Zhu is leading research on leadership performance evaluation.

Weichun Zhu, Ph.D., associate professor of management at Kean University, is leading research on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in employee performance evaluation to enhance leadership effectiveness in organizations.  

Zhu’s research aims to integrate advanced AI tools into traditional employees’ performance evaluation systems to help leaders better understand employee needs, workplace dynamics and potential challenges.  

His team is particularly focused on how AI can support leaders in navigating emotionally complex environments and strengthening communication within organizations. 

“We want to study how leaders can utilize AI programs and tools to help them understand their employees and their needs while also identifying potential problems,” Zhu said. “We also are working to help more accurately understand the social and emotional needs of the employee in the AI era.” 

As part of the project, Zhu is collaborating with Fang Liu, a professor at Guangzhou University in China, to examine the impact of AI-driven employee performance evaluations across a range of industries. Together, they will explore how AI tools may reshape leadership roles, improve leader-employee relationships and build greater trust in the workplace. 

The research will involve data collection from multiple sectors, including manufacturing and finance, providing insight into how AI-based employee performance evaluation systems operate in diverse organizational settings. 

“Dr. Zhu’s research represents the kind of innovative thinking that drives progress in leadership and organizational management,” said Jin Wang, Ph.D., dean of Kean’s College of Business and Public Management. “His work has the potential to reshape how leaders understand and support their teams, and we are proud to see Kean scholars contributing to advancements that will influence workplaces around the world.” 

Zhu notes that the study has the potential to transform how organizations view performance evaluation and leadership. He hopes the findings will encourage companies to see AI as a tool that empowers and develops employees rather than one that simply oversees their work. 

The project also reinforces Kean’s growing prominence in AI innovation, highlighted by the launch of New Jersey’s first bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence earlier this year, a development that aligns with the University’s expanding research agenda and commitment to emerging technologies. 

“With the emergence of AI technology, we are facing a new normal in business,” Zhu added. “This is just the beginning, and the more we implement AI into the workplace, the more it can improve overall leadership and organizational effectiveness.”