Coval named BC3’s 9th president
BUTLER TWP — Interim president Megan Coval was named the ninth president of Butler County Community College by the board of trustees at their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 19.
After a motion from the personnel committee, the trustees voted unanimously to appoint Coval to the position, effective Thursday. Her contract will last four years, and annual base salary is set at $215,000.
“From day one, Megan has led with integrity and commitment to BC3’s mission,” trustee Jennifer Pullar said. “Megan has demonstrated not only her ability to guide our board but also a deep understanding of current challenges and future opportunities. Her leadership has been proactive, and she has earned the confidence and respect of faculty, staff, students and community partners.”
BC3’s board of trustees hold the responsibility of selecting the college’s president. Coval stepped into the role of interim president in May by unanimous approval. She replaced Nick Neupauer, who retired after 17 years as president.
“I believe it is one of the best decisions any board of trustees has made,” Neupauer said Wednesday about Coval’s appointment to president. “Megan is the right person at the right time to lead this wonderful institution.”
Before her work with BC3, Coval served as vice president for policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and director of government relations for the U.S. Department of Education’s Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
Then, at BC3, she served as executive director of the Education Foundation between 2021 and her appointment to interim president in 2024.
The college issued a release Wednesday afternoon to announce her appointment. According to board chairman Joseph Kubit, the college did not pursue any searches because of confidence in Coval.
“During the period that Megan has served as interim president, she has consistently impressed the trustees,” Kubit said. “There is truly no part of this role in which she did not shine. The board did not see any benefit to the college or to Megan by delaying offering her the position of president.”
According to the release, BC3 under Coval’s interim presidency made decisions to eliminate an annual operating deficit, expecting to cut at least $530,000 from the next budget.
The release also highlighted that the end of in-person credit programs at BC3 @ LindenPointe is expected to save roughly $450,000 a year, something the board expressed as a wise way to lower expenditures.
“The recent cost-cutting measure taken by Coval and her cabinet at the BC3 @ LindenPointe location is but just one example of her leadership and ability to foretell the challenged financial landscape facing higher education,” Pullar said.
When Coval was appointed interim president, the board planned to assess Gov. Josh Shapiro’s plans for higher education before filling a permanent position. Now, her previous experience is considered a benefit to the college.
“With Megan’s experience in governmental relations at the state and national level, she is well-poised to navigate and lead BC3 in this new landscape in higher education,” Kubit said.
“Thank you all very much for the support last year and for your faith in me and for entrusting me with the leadership of this institution,” Coval said at the meeting. “It will be my honor to continue to do this and I will always do my best to serve this institution well.”
