Dr. Andy Feinstein
About Dr. Feinstein
Dr. Andrew “Andy” Feinstein is a proven academic leader who is passionate about student success. He became UNC’s 13th president in July 2018.
During his busy first year at UNC, Dr. Feinstein focused on student success, fiscal sustainability and communication. He created a Division of Student Affairs and launched a Strategic Enrollment and Student Success initiative to improve student retention and graduation rates. Both made significant gains this fall.
Dr. Andrew “Andy” Feinstein is a proven academic leader who is passionate about student success. He became UNC’s 13th president in July 2018. During his busy first year at UNC, Dr. Feinstein focused on student success, fiscal sustainability and communication. He created a Division of Student Affairs and launched a Strategic Enrollment and Student Success initiative to improve student retention and graduation rates. Both made significant gains this fall. The efforts surrounding the Strategic Enrollment and Student Success initiative included the formation of four action teams comprised of university stakeholders to increase student recruitment, retention, and academic success. With recommendations from the SESS action teams, as well as input gathered from faculty/staff and student forums, Dr. Feinstein led the development of a new vision document for the university: Rowing, Not Drifting 2030.
He also consolidated two divisions into a Division of University Advancement to integrate UNC’s work to build relationships, share its story and generate support. As a result of a campus-wide effort to confront UNC’s $10 million structural deficit, by July 2020, the university will no longer be deficit spending.
Emphasizing transparency, communication and collaborative decision making, Dr. Feinstein has met with the faculty of every academic department and school on campus. He also traveled throughout the state to meet UNC alumni and friends, higher education leaders, legislators and policymakers.
Dr. Feinstein’s career in higher education spans 30 years. He most recently served five years as provost and senior vice president at San Jose State University. Prior to that, he served in roles including professor, department chair, associate dean, dean, and senior advisor to the president at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He has published numerous journal articles and books on topics such as student success, strategic management, simulation modeling, purchasing and foodservice operations. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Hotel Administration from UNLV and a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University.
In his free time, Dr. Feinstein enjoys cooking, spending time with his family and being in the great outdoors. He’s an avid disc golf player who frequents UNC’s course. He and his wife, Kerry, reside in Greeley and are the parents of Nick, 19, and Rachel, 15.