‘It just felt like the right time’

When Rachelle Feldman became associate provost and director in the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid a decade ago, she could have just guarded the legacy she inherited. Maintaining the groundbreaking Carolina Covenant, which allows students from low-income families to graduate debt-free, and stretching Carolina’s No. 1 best value ranking among U.S. public universities to 21 straight years are worthy achievements.

Instead, Feldman also went on to become Carolina’s vice provost for enrollment, leaving behind her own legacy of leadership and service.

In her financial aid role, Feldman and her team improved and modernized the Covenant and implemented new programs: Blue Sky scholarships for middle-income families and Kessler scholarships for first-generation students from rural North Carolina. The Kessler program is supported by a dedicated program coordinator and University mentors who provide academic, social and career guidance to help them succeed, thrive and give back.

Excellence within reach is Feldman’s mantra. “All our students earn their way here first, and then we figure out how we’re going to make it affordable for them,” she said.

“We are grateful for the impact she has made on behalf of future and current students and for her leadership of the enrollment team,” said James Orr, senior vice provost for student success.

(Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Much of this work happens behind the scenes and requires strong teamwork, Feldman said.

“None of this stuff is me alone. I helped build my team into a cohesive, collaborative, positive, forward-looking family.”

When changes to the FAFSA in 2024 caused disruption, the enrollment staff wrote their own code in case the form fell through. Under Feldman’s leadership, the team made improvements to student registration and enrollment and established regional community outreach positions. This year, a new enrollment policy means that early-admission NC applicants will get a decision by Dec. 20, about a month earlier than before.

“We’ve really moved the needle on supporting students in a modern way,” Feldman said.

Feldman leaves Nov. 26. As the University’s divisions of student affairs and enrollment management are reimagined as a new Division of Student Success, Vice Provost Leah Cox will be the interim leader for enrollment management.

“It just felt like the right time. I think I’ve left things in really good shape, ready for next steps to be taken and someone to pass the baton to,” Feldman said. She teaches an advanced ballet class in Durham and plans to spend more time with her husband and traveling. But, she admitted, “I’m going to dabble here and there in the consulting world because my brain won’t just go to sleep.”

Feldman said she will miss her colleagues and the beauty of the campus. Ten years ago, she called her husband to share her first impression: “You know when you see a movie and it’s on a college campus? That’s what this place looks like.”

Carolina impressed her with its “focus on access and affordability combined with excellence and tradition,” she said. “It’s a really special place, and I know it’ll continue to be that for years and years to come. Although I am looking forward to not setting an alarm.”