Dr. Raenita A. Fenner

Associate Professor and Chair of Engineering

Get To Know Me

I am Raenita Fenner, an associate professor and chair of Engineering at Loyola University Maryland. Along with this, I am also the director of the African and African American Studies interdisciplinary minor at Loyola. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University in Electrical Engineering and my Master's and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University. I joined Loyola's faculty in 2011, and I am originally from Maryland's Eastern Shore.

In my area of expertise in electromagnetic material characterization, I have published several journal articles and conference papers. I am a Senior Member of the IEEE and have served as a reviewer for the IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques and IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. Apart from this, I have a keen interest in engineering education research. In 2016, I received a grant from the Engineering Information Foundation to investigate ways to better incorporate writing instruction in engineering labs. This has led me to my research interest in investigating quantitative literacy in engineering undergraduate students.

Currently, I am collaborating on a series of videos and curriculum that will focus on the experiences of Black entrepreneurs in Baltimore. The project is sponsored by the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) and awarded by the American Jesuit Colleges and Universities Business School Deans.

Professional History

Faculty Appointments

2021-Present

Associate Professor and Chair of Engineering, Loyola University Maryland

2016-2021

Associate Professor of Engineering, Loyola University Maryland

2011-2016

Assistant Professor of Engineering, Loyola University Maryland

Educational History

2007-2011

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Michigan State University

Concentration: Electromagnetics
Dissertation: Error Analysis of Free-Space Material Characterization Methods
Defense Date: April 29th, 2011
Advisor: Dr. Edward J. Rothwell

2005-2007

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Michigan State University

Concentration: Electromagnetics
Thesis: Bandwidth Extension of a Body-Worn Antenna Vest
Advisor: Dr. Edward J. Rothwell

2001-2005

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Morgan State University

Graduated Magna Cum Laude
GPA: 3.75

Teaching, Research, and Service

Teaching

I love learning and I have always loved school. Being a professor is a dream job for me as my job is to always learn new things and most importantly help other people learn new things. Now, as a faculty member, I have the ability to create what I have always visioned as the perfect place for students to learn and to mature into scholars. From this perspective, the things that I value and try to instill in my classes are (1) the mutual sharing of thoughts and ideas and (2) enthusiasm for learning and the material. In addition, I want to prepare students to be well-rounded engineers with sound reasoning skills and an appreciation for life-long learning.

Sample Courses Taught:

Signals and Systems
Communications
Electronics
Electromagnetics
Linear Circuits Laboratory

Research

My research interests are in electromagnetics where I am specifically interested in free space material characterization methods, reconfigurable antennas, self-structuring antennas, and wearable antennas.

I also now have strong research interests in engineering education where I have an interest in teaching technical writing to engineers and quantitative literacy competency in engineering students.

Google Scholar Profile

Service

I have performed many forms of service for the university, my department, my research community, and the Baltimore/Washington area. In particular, much of my service has been aligned in the professional development of women students and students of color in STEM, assisting my department and the Division of Applied Sciences in recruitment activities, and participating in the revision/updating of department curricula and policies.

Trainer for Publication Academy
- Developed online training modules for professionals in academia.
- Modules developed: Navigating Academic Job Offers, Introduction to College Teaching, and Introduction to University Service
“LEADING THE WAY” PANEL - inSTEM SUMMIT, July 27-29, 2023
- Sponsored by the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation
2023 and 2024 Faculty Advisor for the Lockheed Martin Ethics in Engineering Case Competition
- 2023 Competition Finalist
Luke in Space Foundation, Symposium Speaker, November 2023
Michigan State University Women of Color in STEM Guest Speaker
- Presentation Title: Shaping the Future: Unveiling the Odyssey of Graduate and Doctoral Studies in Engineering
AWIS Women In STEM Panel, September 22nd 2022
GEM Hunt Panelist and Speaker, March 2023
Fall 2021 Teaching Enhancement Workshop Presentation: Silver Linings from COVID - Teaching Electrical Engineering from Home.
Presenter, Virtual Workshop: Teaching Computation Online with MATLAB.
- Presentation Title: Simulink in Communication Theory.
National Technical Association Mathletics Competition Volunteer
Faculty advisor for the Loyola University MD Society of Women Engineers collegiate interest group
Judge at Western High School’s VEX Robotic Competition · February 25, 2012
Judge at the NAACP ACT-SO Engineering Competition · 2018 and 2021

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

Maya Angelou

Contact

4501 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210

rafenner(at)loyola(dot)edu