College of Engineering & Technology

Kimmel School of Construction Management
Dr. John Hildreth 
Kimmel Distinguished Professor of Construction Management/Intermin Associate Dean, Office of Research Administration 
Kimmel School of Construction Management 
jhildreth@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Morrison, Geoff, et al. Decision Making for Repair Versus Replacement of Highway Operations Equipment. National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP_, 2023. 

Presentations 

Hildreth, J., Peele, C., NCDOT Research and Innovation Summit, “Vessel Electrification Investigation for the NCDOT Ferry System,” NCDOT, Raleigh, NC. 

School of Engineering & Technology
Dr. Basel Alsayyed Ahmad 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
alsayyed@wcu.edu 

Publications 

Alsayyed, Basel, and Frederick Malm. Waterjet Process Parameters Optimization. ASME-IMECE 2023, 2023. 

Alsayyed, Basel, and Yanjun Yan. “All-encompassing Skill Portal for Skills Management and Development.” 2023 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings, American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Alsayyed, Basel. 3MR, Internet of Things (IoT),. 2023.

Dr. Chip Ferguson 
Full Professor/Associate Dean, College of Engineering & Technology 
cferguson@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yanik, Paul M, et al. “Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): Program Goals and First Year Activities.” 130th ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition, ASEE, 2023, pp. 1–11. 

Dr. Patrick Gardner 
Full Professor Emeritus 
School of Engineering and Technology 
pgardner@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Ritenour, Andrew, et al. Implementation of a Scrum-like Project Management Methodology for Engineering Capstone. ASEE Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration (CIEC), 2023. 

Dr. Adam Harris 
Assistant Professor of Practice 
School of Engineering and Technology 
adamharris@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Jack, Hugh, and Adam Harris. IoT in Project-Based Learning. American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Harris, Adam, and Hugh Jack. An Approach for a Project-Based Digital Logic Design Course Using an Innovative Simulator. 2023 Workshop on Computer Architecture Education, 2023. 

Presentations 

Harris, A. (Presenter & Author), WCU College of Engineering Seminar Series, “Engineering Students Who Can Do More,” Belk Building, Cullowhee, NC. 

Allen, S. (Presenter & Author), Tanaka, M. L., Harris, A., “Soil Moisture Sensor,” National Conference on Undergraduate Research NCUR 2023, Eau Claire, WI. 

Dr. Tarek Hassan Kandil 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
thassankandil@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Ali, Mohammed Hamouda, et al. A Novel Stochastic Optimizer Solving Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch Problem Considering Renewable Energy Resources. no. 4, ENERGIES, 2023, doi:10.3390/en16041562. 

Mohamed, Emad, et al. Optimal 1+PDDF/FOPIT Frequency Regulator for Developing Robust Multi-microgrid Systems with Employing EV Energy Storage Batteries. no. C, Journal of Energy Storage, Dec. 2023, doi:10.1016/j.est.2023.109088. 

Dr. Hugh Jack 
Cass Balleneger Distinguished Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
hughjack@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Jack, Hugh. Engineering Design, Planning, and Management – Second Edition. 2nd ed., Academic Press (Elsevier), 2023, p. Approx. 500–600. 

Jack, Hugh, and Scott Rowe. Artificial Intelligence Solutions for System Design. American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Jack, Hugh, and Adam Harris. IoT in Project-Based Learning. American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Jack, Hugh, and Scott Rowe. Teaching Industrial Control with Open-Source Software. American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Ritenour, Andrew, et al. “Use of Individual Lab Kits to Enhance Hands-on Learning in Electronic Circuits Courses.” 2023 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings, American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Harris, Adam, and Hugh Jack. An Approach for a Project-Based Digital Logic Design Course Using an Innovative Simulator. 2023 Workshop on Computer Architecture Education, 2023. 

Presentations 

Jack, H., School of Engineering + Technology Seminar Series, “Designing PCBs – A Working Session.” 

Dr. Bora Karayaka 
Full Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
hbkarayaka@email.wcu.edu 

Presentations 

Beaver, B. (Presenter & Author), Kiger, J. (Author Only), Gonzalez Castillo, J. C. (Author Only), Warner, A. (Author Only), Karayaka, H. B. (Leader), National Conference on Undergraduate Research, “Small Modular Reactor Based Microgrid Cost Optimization,” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI. 

Beaver, B. (Presenter & Author), Kiger, J., Gonzalez Castillo, J. C., Warner, A., Karayaka, H. B. (Leader), Research and Scholarship Conference, “Small Modular Reactor Based Cost Optimization,” Western Carolina University, Cullowhee. 

Timm Muth 
Assistant Professor of Practice 
School of Engineering and Technology 
mutht@email.wcu.edu 

Presentations 

Muth, T. A., WCU faculty lunchtime talks, “Biogas: The Underutilized, Smelly Cousin of Biofuels,” WCU CET, Belk Bldg, Cullowhee, NC. 

Dr. Andy Ritenour 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
aritenour@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Ritenour, Andrew, et al. “Use of Individual Lab Kits to Enhance Hands-on Learning in Electronic Circuits Courses.” 2023 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings, American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Yanik, Paul M, et al. “Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): Program Goals and First Year Activities.” 130th ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition, ASEE, 2023, pp. 1–11. 

Ritenour, Andrew, et al. Implementation of a Scrum-like Project Management Methodology for Engineering Capstone. ASEE Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration (CIEC), 2023. 

Dr. Scott Rowe 
Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
srowe@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Jack, Hugh, and Scott Rowe. Artificial Intelligence Solutions for System Design. American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Jack, Hugh, and Scott Rowe. Teaching Industrial Control with Open-Source Software. American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Yanik, Paul M, et al. “Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): Program Goals and First Year Activities.” 130th ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition, ASEE, 2023, pp. 1–11. 

Dr. Martin Tanaka 
Full Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
mtanaka@email.wcu.edu 

Presentations 

Allen, S. (Presenter & Author), Tanaka, M. L., Harris, A., “Soil Moisture Sensor,” National Conference on Undergraduate Research NCUR 2023, Eau Claire, WI. 

Dr. Yanjun Yan 
Associate Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
yyan@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yan, Yanjun. Create Multi-Part Problems with Random Parameterization on Blackboard and Canvas on Par with “Mastering” and “Connect”. American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Ritenour, Andrew, et al. “Use of Individual Lab Kits to Enhance Hands-on Learning in Electronic Circuits Courses.” 2023 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings, American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Alsayyed, Basel, and Yanjun Yan. “All-encompassing Skill Portal for Skills Management and Development.” 2023 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings, American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Slavov, Vladislav, and Yanjun Yan. Study on AI in Education Policies. American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. 

Presentations 

Yan, Y., WCU CFC Teaching and Learning Day, “Grow as a Teacher at WCU.” 

Yan, Y., WCU’s May 2023 Saturday Afternoon Commencement, “Commencement Speaker.” 

Yan, Y., Innovations in Electronic Engineering Laboratory Education, “Lab Kits Utilization During and After the Pandemic,” Munster Technological University, Ireland. 

Dr. Bill Yang 
Full Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
wyang@email.wcu.edu 

Patents 

Yang, W. “SIGNAL SAMPLING AND RECONSTRUCTION BELOW THE NYQUIST RATE.” (Submitted: October 4, 2022, Application: April 2023). 

Dr. Paul Yanik 
Full Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
pyanik@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Yanik, Paul M, et al. “Fostering Leaders in Technology Entrepreneurship (FLiTE): Program Goals and First Year Activities.” 130th ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition, ASEE, 2023, pp. 1–11. 

Assistant Professor 
School of Engineering and Technology 
yzhang@email.wcu.edu 

Publications 

Liu, Zhaozhen, et al. The Forming Control Method of Ni35A + TiC Composite Coatings on Cylindrical Substrate Deposited by Laser Cladding. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Feb. 2023. 

Zhang, Hao, et al. A Comparative Investigation on Microstructure Evolution and Wear Resistance of in Situ Synthesized NbC, WC, TaC Reinforced Mo2FeB2 Coatings by Laser Cladding. Ceramics International, Jan. 2023. 

Zhang, Hao, et al. A Comparative Study on Microstructure and Tribological Characteristics of Mo2FeB2/WC Self-lubricating Composite Coatings with the Addition of WS2, MoS2 and H-BN. Materials & Design, Jan. 2023. 

Presentations 

Zhang, Y., Colon Rodriguez, A., Mountain to Sea Symposium, “Structural Topological Optimization Applied in Additive Manufacturing,” University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC.