Andrew Rivers

Andrew Rivers serves as a Teaching Professor in the Department of Physics at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. He earned his PhD from the University of New Mexico in 2000 and has been teaching at Northwestern since 1999, specializing in introductory physics, Modern Cosmology, and Highlights of Astronomy courses.

His research focuses on radio astronomy and galaxy surveys, notably conducting a large-scale radio survey of the Zone of Avoidance that discovered 20 previously unknown nearby galaxies during his doctoral work. Rivers has significantly contributed to physics education through the development of the Gateway Science Workshop program and other curricular innovations.

Rivers has received extensive recognition for his teaching excellence, including the Weinberg College Distinguished Teaching Award in 2008 and seven consecutive appearances on the Associated Student Government Faculty-Administrator Honor Roll. His institutional service includes advising for Weinberg College and serving as Faculty Master of the Cultural and Community Studies Residential College from 2004-2009.

• Weinberg College Distinguished Teaching Award (2008)
• Associated Student Government Faculty-Administrator Honor Roll (2004-2006, 2008-2011)

As an active member of Northwestern's academic community, Rivers has shaped undergraduate physics education through program development and residential college leadership, maintaining strong student engagement through consistent teaching honors and innovative pedagogical approaches.