Andrew Ritenour

Andrew Ritenour is an Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering and Technology at Western Carolina University (WCU). He joined WCU in 2018 after a decade in industry, where he managed and developed innovative technologies in semiconductor devices, RF surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, and flexible electronic displays. He holds 30 patents and has published in IEEE and AIP journals. Ritenour earned his Ph.D. and S.M. from MIT in Electrical Engineering (2007 and 1999) and a B.S.E.E. from the University of Virginia (1997).

Education:

• Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2007)
• S.M., Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1999)
• B.S.E.E., Electrical Engineering, University of Virginia (1997)

Research Interests: Ritenour focuses on smart structures, additive manufacturing for electronic devices, microelectronics (including SAW devices), and sustainable energy solutions. His work bridges academic research with industrial applications, emphasizing semiconductor device innovation and high-efficiency power electronics.

Teaching & Outreach: He coordinates the senior engineering capstone program, fostering multidisciplinary projects with industry partners. His teaching emphasizes professional skills development and industrial collaboration.

Labs/Teams: His research involves advanced semiconductor fabrication, power device design, and sustainable energy systems. Collaborations include developing GaN and SiC-based power devices for renewable energy applications.