Transition Announcement

Fellow Bears,

It is with immense gratitude and appreciation that I write to share that I have decided to step down as President of the University of Northern Colorado, effective August 1, 2026.

Serving UNC since 2018 has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my life. What I will carry with me most is not a list of initiatives or milestones—it’s the people and the moments: the resilience and energy of our students, the daily dedication of our faculty and staff, and the pride and loyalty of our alumni and supporters. From the beginning, I have been embraced by this community, and I am profoundly thankful for the trust you placed in me.

I have devoted my professional life to public higher education—as a faculty member and as an academic and administrative leader—and I’ve had the privilege of serving at four universities for more than 26 years.

UNC has been especially meaningful because of the heart of this place: a campus culture that shows up for students, values community, and keeps pushing forward even when the work is hard.

During my time as president, we have asked important questions about who we are, what we stand for, and what UNC must become to best serve Colorado and beyond. Early on, we built our strategic framework—Rowing, Not Drifting 2030—not as a slogan, but as a shared commitment to intentional progress. Together, we strengthened foundations and positioned UNC for a stronger future.

I’m proud of what we have accomplished together—and I’m equally proud of how we did it: through collaboration, shared governance, transparency, and a relentless focus on students. 

From the beginning, my priority has been to advance student success. Together, we expanded access and affordability through the UNC Tuition Promise, the Colorado First-Year Admission Guarantee, and District 6 Direct Admissions. We’ve achieved record outcomes in student retention, persistence, and graduation rates. We earned the Hispanic Serving Institution designation and Carnegie R2 research classification. We have raised more than 300 million dollars in combined private and public support for UNC’s mission. And this summer, we will open the UNC College of Osteopathic Medicine—a major step forward for our university and for the health of Coloradans.

And I’ll be honest: part of me is sad to be stepping away at a time when momentum is moving in our favor—enrollment growth, record student outcomes, a new medical college, progress in research, and a fundraising campaign that’s already generated over 100 million dollars. But it’s also true that presidencies have a life cycle. I’ve spent 22 years in academic administration and eight years in this always-on role. I’m not someone who can do this job halfway. And I want to make sure I leave UNC at the right time—strong, stable, and positioned for its next chapter.

At the same time, we all know the work isn’t finished. UNC — like many regional public universities across the country — continues to face enrollment pressures and a funding environment where state and federal support doesn’t fully match the needs and ambitions we have for our students. That reality makes what we’re doing even more important: staying focused, staying creative, and continuing to row forward together.

None of that progress belongs to any one person. It belongs to you—to the faculty and staff doing the daily work, to students who persist, to alumni who advocate, to partners who collaborate, and to supporters who invest in UNC’s future. I have simply had the honor of helping lead during an important chapter of that shared effort.

I also want to recognize the Board of Trustees and my leadership team. I’m incredibly proud of them. They’ve been through a lot, and our progress is a testament to their skill, steadiness under pressure, and genuine care for our mission, especially our students. I won’t try to extol everyone’s virtues here today—but I will be sharing my appreciation with them privately, and I hope the campus community knows how fortunate we are to have them.

To the broader UNC community: it has been a privilege—truly. This is a very special place. And yes, it has at times been both a challenge and a pleasure to serve. That’s honest. But it’s been worth it, because this work matters, and because UNC matters.

Between now and August 1, I will remain fully engaged in leading the university. I will work hard through July. And I intend to support the Board of Trustees and my successor during the transition in whatever capacity I’m asked. I’m not going anywhere.

After this transition period, I plan to take a short break and recharge. Beyond that, we’ll see what comes next. I don’t have a fixed plan right now—and I’m okay with that.

What I am absolutely certain of is this: the next leader of UNC will have an extraordinary foundation to build on, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next chapter of this university’s story.

Thank you for allowing me to serve UNC. This is a special place because of you, and I will always be proud to have been part of this Bear community. It has been a privilege of a lifetime.

Once a Bear, Always a Bear.

Andy Feinstein 
President