Maikel Leon | Artificial Intelligence | Research Excellence Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maikel Leon | Artificial Intelligence | Research Excellence Award

University of Miami, United States

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maikel Leon is an accomplished academic and AI specialist with a Ph.D. in Computer Science focused on artificial intelligence applied to transportation from Hasselt University, Belgium, and summa cum laude degrees from the Central University of Las Villas, Cuba. Since 2015, he has been a faculty member at the Department of Business Technology, Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami, teaching and coordinating a wide range of courses in business analytics, programming, machine learning, databases, and artificial intelligence for business. His academic career spans institutions in the United States and Cuba, reflecting strong international teaching and research experience. Dr. Leon is an active reviewer and program committee member for leading journals and conferences, including IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems and FLAIRS. He has received prestigious honors such as the Best Paper Award at the IEEE ICTAI Conference and the Cuban National Academy of Sciences Award for outstanding research. Beyond academia, he is a frequent media commentator on AI, a certified professional in generative AI and cloud technologies, and a leader in innovative teaching, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration initiatives.

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Dr. David Hua | Artificial Intelligence | Best Researcher Award

Dr. David Hua | Artificial Intelligence | Best Researcher Award

Ball State University, United States.

Dr. David M. Hua is an Associate Professor at the Center for Information and Communication Sciences, Ball State University. With a rich academic background and over two decades of teaching, Dr. Hua has become a pivotal figure in the intersection of technology education, cybersecurity, and higher education. He is recognized for mentoring student-led innovation and his contribution to emerging tech curricula including offensive security, private cloud infrastructure, and sustainability in IT.

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🎓 Education

Dr. Hua earned his Ed.D. in Higher Education in 2010 from Ball State University, where he also completed an MBA in Information Systems (2000) and a B.S. in Psychological Science (1991). This diverse academic foundation reflects his commitment to both technical expertise and educational leadership.

💼 Experience

Since July 20, 1998, Dr. Hua has served at Ball State University, advancing to the role of Associate Professor. He began as an Assistant Professor in 2000. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate levels with courses ranging from cybersecurity and network configuration to cloud technologies. Beyond Ball State, his engagements with other institutions and organizations have broadened his interdisciplinary impact on both students and faculty.

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Hua’s research interests lie at the crossroads of cybersecurity, AI in mental health surveillance, sustainable IT practices, and technology integration in higher education. He is especially passionate about leveraging machine learning to support mental health outcomes and empower student innovation through data-driven methodologies.

🏆 Awards & Mentorship

Dr. Hua has been an active mentor in various student projects, honors theses, and national competitions like the National Cyber League. He’s also served on several doctoral committees, contributing to dissertations in educational leadership and adult learning. His efforts have earned him recognition as a dedicated mentor, innovator, and academic leader.

📚 Publication

AI-Driven Mental Health Surveillance: Identifying Suicidal Ideation Through Machine Learning Techniques
📅 2025 | Big Data and Cognitive Computing
🧾 Cited by: 3 articles (as of early 2025)
👉 DOI: 10.3390/bdcc9010016