BC3 Trustees Select Coval as College’s Interim President

Megan M. Coval, who in 30 months has assisted the Butler County Community College Education Foundation in raising at least $7.5 million and presides over government relations administrators from Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges, was unanimously approved today by BC3 trustees as interim president of the institution.

Trustees voted 15-0 in support of a motion from the board’s personnel committee to appoint Coval to the position effective May 16.

Dr. Nick Neupauer announced Jan. 9 his plan to retire as BC3’s chief executive officer. Trustees said Jan. 17 they would provide an update March 20 about replacing Neupauer, at 17 years the college’s longest-serving president.

BC3’s board is a policy-making body that provides direction and guidance to the president and administration of the college. Trustees’ primary functions include establishing basic policy, appointing the president and financial control of the institution.

Trustees recognized “the need for a seasoned expert in relationship management, higher education prowess and government relations to succeed Dr. Neupauer,” board Chair Joseph E. Kubit said today.

Coval’s experience, Kubit said, “is vast.”

“New position is a wonderful fit”

The college hired Coval in September 2021 as executive director of the BC3 Education Foundation and external relations following a nationwide search.

Prior to assuming her Cabinet-level position at BC3, Coval advanced to vice president for policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators in Washington, D.C.

She also served as director of government relations for the U.S. Department of Education’s Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance in Washington and as an admissions counselor at The Pennsylvania State University in State College.

“It’s an incredible honor for me to serve in this interim position,” said Coval, 40, a Butler native and Valencia resident. “I feel very grateful that over my career I have had the opportunity to work in different areas of higher education. All of these experiences have in some way, shape or form been focused on access and affordability.

“For me, the interim position is wonderful fit given BC3’s mission as it relates to providing quality, affordable higher education, and also because I care deeply about this institution, its students and employees. There is also something very personal about this opportunity, as it truly is an honor to be able to serve my hometown as the leader of the community’s college.”

“Extensive experience in government relations”

The position of interim president does not include an end date, Kubit said. The approach will allow time for trustees to evaluate the impact Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new Blueprint for Higher Education may have on the state’s community colleges, Kubit said.

“What perhaps has magnified this presidential transition at Butler County Community College is the unknown impact of a new model for Pennsylvania’s community colleges,” Kubit said.

Shapiro’s blueprint, announced in February, proposes “an entirely new public postsecondary education system with a new governance structure,” with the state’s community colleges and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities as equal partners.

“Megan has extensive experience in government relations at the federal and state level,” Neupauer said. “And she is very aware of our role locally. That is needed by any person who is sitting as the president of an institution in our commonwealth. It is needed now more than ever.”

Her background in government relations uniquely positions her to serve well in her new role, Coval said.

“That experience is crucial at this point in time with all the activity at the state level,” Coval said. “It is important to be able to have someone in this role who knows how to navigate legislative and executive proposals and to be sure BC3 has a seat at the table and stays engaged in the process.”

Leads efforts in Harrisburg, Washington

Absent a capital campaign to support construction of the 25,000-square-foot Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building on BC3’s main campus in Butler Township, Coval helped to raise nearly $7 million in private contributions and initiated a new source of funding for the facility by securing a $500,000 federal grant.

Coval also presides as chair of the government relations affinity group for the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, Harrisburg, and advocates for community colleges with elected officials at Association of Community College Trustees’ national legislative summits in Washington.

“A CEO is what she is,” Jennifer R. Pullar, a BC3 trustee and chair of the board’s personnel committee, said of Coval. “She has been in the community building relationships. She has been in Harrisburg building relationships. She is the key person who has been there creating those relationships on behalf of the college.

“Regardless of what happens with the state, relationships are still going to be a huge component of a community college. And we have faith in her because of what she has shown in her time at BC3.”

Coval earned a master of education degree in higher education administration with a policy focus from The Pennsylvania State University in 2006, a bachelor of arts degree in political science with a communication arts minor from Allegheny College in 2005, and is a graduate of Butler Senior High School.

A decision about Coval’s current position will be made later, college officials said. Her salary will be $178,000 as BC3’s interim president.

Coval and her husband, Nick, are the parents of daughters Annie, 7, and Gracie, 4.

Neupauer has served longer than that of any current chief executive officer among Pennsylvania’s community colleges, its public four-year universities and its state-related institutions.