9NEWS is reporting that University of Northern Colorado President Andy Feinstein is stepping down, with Janet Oravetz noting he will officially end his tenure as UNC’s 13th president on Aug. 1 after nearly eight years in the role.
The article leans heavily on Feinstein’s own farewell message: he says UNC has momentum, pointing to enrollment growth, record student outcomes, a new medical college, and progress in research, but that presidencies have a “life cycle” and after 22 years in academic administration and eight years in an “always-on” job, he wants to leave the university “strong, stable, and positioned” for what comes next.
It also includes praise from the Board of Trustees. Chairman Dick Monfort calls Feinstein a tremendous advocate and credits him with positioning the institution for long-term success. The board says more details on interim leadership and the search process are coming soon.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Andy Feinstein is stepping down as UNC president on Aug. 1, and yes, that is a big deal for Greeley and Northern Colorado.
- He has been in the seat nearly eight years since taking the job in July 2018, which is long enough to actually leave fingerprints, not just press releases.
- Feinstein says UNC is on an upswing: enrollment growth, record student outcomes, and a stronger research posture. In other words, he is not bailing on a tire fire.
- A centerpiece accomplishment in the story is the UNC College of Osteopathic Medicine, described as the state’s first public osteopathic medical college, planned to open this fall.
- The board is now shopping for the next leader, and if you care about UNC, you should care who gets that job. Leadership changes can either protect momentum or blow it up for sport.
My Bottom Line
I am honored to count Andy Feinstein as a friend. He called me in advance of this announcement and told me what he was going to do. I nearly cried. That is not political. That is personal.
This is a massive loss for UNC, Greeley, and Weld County. Andy is a good and decent man, and we are lucky to have had him as part of our community and leading one of our most important institutions. The article lists the wins, but the real story is what those wins mean on the ground: students succeeding, a university stabilizing, and a region getting stronger because UNC is stronger.
His accomplishments at UNC are unparalleled, and he has earned a break. Eight years in an “always-on” role is not a hobby. It is a grind. I respect anyone who knows when to pass the baton, especially when the organization is moving in the right direction.
But make no mistake, the community will miss him. We will miss his steady hand, his seriousness, and his commitment to doing things the right way. Andy Feinstein is the real deal, and Weld County is better because he showed up and did the work.
Source: 9 News
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