Rachel Mazyck Pfeifer ’02
The Morehead-Cain Foundation has appointed Rachel Pfeifer (Mazyck) ’02 as chief program officer, effective August 18. In this new role, Rachel will work with our program teams to implement a differentiated approach to leadership development across scholar recruitment and selection, our on-campus and enrichment programs, and our alumni community, building a platform for organizational learning and program innovation.
A former member of the Morehead-Cain Foundation Board of Trustees (2019–2025) and Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund board (2016–2019), the alumna brings more than twenty years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership.
Rachel previously served as the executive director of college and career readiness for Baltimore City Public Schools in Maryland, where she helped students prepare for postsecondary success. She also served as president of Collegiate Directions, a nonprofit that supports first-generation college students from low-income households.
Morehead-Cain President Chris Bradford said he looks forward to working with Rachel to integrate leadership development practices across each stage of the scholar journey, from nomination and selection to student and alumni experiences.
“Rachel’s deep commitment to harnessing the power of education and her experience as both scholar and trustee make her an ideal leader for the next phase of our growth,” the president said. “Her continued service in an expanded capacity strengthens our ability to nurture transformative opportunities for scholars and alumni.”
Rachel will lead the design of recruitment processes, developmental programs, and evaluation tools that support scholar development from entry through graduation and beyond. She will also build organizational research, learning, and innovation capabilities and support the ongoing professional learning and development plan of Foundation staff.
A Rhodes Scholar, Rachel holds a Master of Education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and a Doctor of Philosophy in education from the University of Oxford, where she also served as a junior dean at Harris Manchester College. As a Morehead-Cain Scholar, Rachel served on the Honor Court, co-chaired a leadership development program, and was a resident advisor. She began her career in education as a fourth-grade teacher in Indianola, Mississippi.
Rachel will join the Chapel Hill community with her family in August.
