New UNC president takes interdisciplinary emphasis

Each month, BizWest asks a business leader to participate in a question and answer feature to help shed light on a business topic or add insight to a field of endeavor. This month, Andrew Feinstein, Ph.D, the 13th president of the University of Northern Colorado based in Greeley, agreed to participate.

Feinstein came to UNC with a background as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at San Jose (Calif.) State University. He served before that as dean of Collins College of Hospitality Management at California Polytechnic University in Pomona and, earlier, as professor and chair of the Department of Food and Beverage Management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

BizWest: What are your impressions of the UNC service area and especially the university’s relationship with business?

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Andrew Feinstein: I’ve been impressed traveling through Northern Colorado and meeting with local businesses. I came from an urban environment at San Jose State, and I can tell you that this region of Colorado is vibrant with a bright future. The city of Greeley, in particular, is a community on the rise. As a research university that serves the entire state, with students from 49 counties, and student representation from all 50 states, that presents exciting possibilities. On my drive from my Greeley home to work, I see firsthand the progress, particularly with the resurgence of the core of Greeley with all of the Eighth Avenue developments that connect campus with downtown. This semester, City Manager Roy Otto and I are holding focus groups with students to better understand some ways in which we can engage our 13,000 students in Greeley. Area businesses employ 60 percent of our students. Given the appeal of the area, it’s also no surprise that many of our alumni choose to stay and pursue careers here. Nearly half of our 141,400 graduates reside in northern Colorado.

BW: How do you plan to position UNC for the next five years (or 10 years) with regard to how it trains the next generation of business leaders?

Feinstein: We’re a comprehensive university that educates the citizenry of Colorado in a variety of disciplines with more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs. We also have the world-class Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business. While I’m still in the listening and learning phase, there’s great value in understanding ways in which we can provide interdisciplinary opportunities for our students. We have such great strengths in the humanities and performing arts, along with our science and business offerings. I would love to see opportunities for us to create learners who are able to transcend these different disciplinary areas. In my experience, industry is clamoring for creative and flexible thinkers who understand the human condition. The sought-after employees are business savvy, and they understand people.

BW: How might the Monfort school grow its impact in the region?

Feinstein: By being engaged and connecting with business and industry. We want to provide more opportunities for students to engage in the community through internships and other learning experiences, and better understand and learn from businesses about their needs, and how their industries are evolving. The region is expanding rapidly from its rural and agricultural roots. It’s becoming much more diverse. For example, technology is proliferating in the sector, and that’s going to necessitate a much more diverse workforce. One of our core values here is our liberal arts education that provides students with a broad perspective, and critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, which fosters collaboration. On my state tour of Colorado this fall, I heard from alumni who value their degrees and who use them every day. We want to keep that legacy going in creating lifelong learners.

BW: Are there academic areas that you want to emphasize in the near term?

Feinstein: Founded in 1889 as the state’s normal school to prepare educators, UNC pioneered teaching and learning. That common strand needs to be embedded in all of our disciplines. Our strengths lie not in a particular discipline or program. Our strengths lie in that we offer very diverse educational opportunities ranging from performing arts to business. We want to emphasize these interdisciplinary opportunities for students to help them prepare for their professional lives. Business leaders in Greeley, Weld and throughout Colorado have told me they need more of our graduates. They’re willing to help them acquire the technical skills. They want us to send them graduates who are adaptable, critical thinkers and effective communicators. Given our legacy, we’re in a prime position to do this. Earlier this month, I attended a speech by Gov. Hickenlooper, addressing education and business leaders on the need for more graduates. The state projects that nearly three out of every four jobs will require a college credential in the years ahead. We want to rise to the challenge to help meet that demand.

BW: What can the business sector do to assist you and the university in its mission?

Feinstein: Send us students, hire our students, visit our classrooms as a guest lecturer. Also, keep me informed, engaged, and apprised of how the business community is changing and the needs are changing for students. My door is always open.