Dr. Andrew “Andy” Feinstein became the 13th president of the University of Northern Colorado on July 1, 2018. As president, Andy is committed to ensuring that UNC is a Students First university. He fosters an environment that promotes excellence in teaching and learning; advances critical inquiry through research, scholarship, and creative works; and prioritizes the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community.

Andy has worked tirelessly to ensure that UNC is well-positioned for future success. He strengthened the university’s financial capacity by rebuilding cash reserves to their highest point in over a decade, and he has maintained a focus on directing resources to help UNC realize its strategic priorities. He also directed efforts to better align the university’s organizational structure and leverage data analytics to improve decision-making and student success outcomes.  

During his first year as president, Andy initiated a collaborative process to articulate a new shared direction for UNC, which led to the creation of the university’s ten-year strategic plan, Rowing, Not Drifting 2030. Guided by the vision of being the institution that Colorado looks to as the future of higher education, successes to-date include introducing a strategic enrollment management planning process, investing in multiple compensation increases for faculty and staff, and making significant progress toward meeting the needs of Colorado’s diverse population by taking steps to become a Hispanic Serving Institution. 

Andy has also led UNC’s efforts to establish an osteopathic medical college, which will expand the university’s programmatic offerings in health sciences and enhance its role in meeting the workforce needs of the state and region. Successes include securing legislation authorizing UNC to provide osteopathic medical education, hiring a founding dean, initiating development of a facility program plan, and securing philanthropic and state funding support for this significant initiative. 

Under Andy’s leadership, UNC completed its first-ever comprehensive campaign, a significant achievement for the university. Since his arrival, Andy has raised more than $50 million to help advance institutional priorities, and he is now leading the initial stages of the university’s next comprehensive campaign.  

Emphasizing transparency, communication, and collaborative decision-making, Andy meets frequently with the Student Senate, Faculty Senate, Professional Administrative Staff Council, Classified Staff Council, and other organizations serving UNC’s students, faculty, and staff. He also engages regularly with alumni and friends across the state, higher education leaders, and local and state elected officials. 

His positive influence over higher education in Colorado extends well beyond UNC. Through an active agenda to coordinate efforts among the presidents and chancellors of Colorado’s public colleges and universities, Andy has helped to ensure institutions advocate for the needs of higher education with one voice—benefitting institutions and students across the state. 

Andy is an active member of the community and serves on the executive committees of the Greeley Chamber of Commerce and the Greeley Downtown Development Authority. His national leadership includes serving on the board of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Big Sky Conference Presidents’ Council, which he chaired from 2020 to 2022. He previously served on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors .  

Andy came to UNC from San Jose State University, where he served as provost and senior vice president. Before 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.