Rachel Pfeifer (Mazyck) ’02 was appointed chief program officer in 2025 to execute the Morehead-Cain Program’s leadership development strategy and to oversee scholar recruitment and selection, the four-year scholar experience, and alumni engagement.
Rachel brings more than two decades of experience in education and nonprofit leadership. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as executive director of college and career readiness for Baltimore City Public Schools, where she worked to ensure that students had access to strong postsecondary pathways. She also led Collegiate Directions, a nonprofit supporting first-generation college students from low-income households.
A former member of the Morehead-Cain Foundation Board of Trustees (2019–2025) and the Morehead-Cain Scholarship Fund board (2016–2019), Rachel has long been a dedicated contributor to the Foundation’s mission. As chief program officer, she collaborates with the president and program teams to embed leadership development language and practices throughout the scholar journey, from nomination and application through student life and alumni engagement.
Rachel also oversees the development of evaluation tools that measure scholar growth, piloting initiatives across program areas, and leads a professional learning and development strategy for Foundation staff.
A Rhodes Scholar, Rachel earned a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Doctor of Philosophy in education from the University of Oxford, where she also served as junior dean of Harris Manchester College. As a Morehead-Cain Scholar, she was active in student leadership, serving on the Honor Court, co-chairing a leadership development program, and working as a resident advisor. She began her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Indianola, Mississippi.
Rachel and her family joined the Chapel Hill community in July.