BC3 Past Presidents

Dr. Cynthia Azari served as the seventh president of Butler County Community College from November 2002 until July 2006. She served as vice president of Olympic College, Bremerton, WA., for three years prior. She also served as education division director of the Texas State Property Tax Board for four years and as technical coordinator of Austin Community College in Austin, Texas, for three years.

Her higher education experience included posts as vice president for instruction and dean for business and engineering at Olympic College. Her public sector experience included serving as the director of the education division at the Texas State Property Tax Board.

Dr. Azari earned her bachelor's degree in government from Houston College, two master's degrees in Education Administration and Industrial Relations from West Virginia University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seattle University.

Dr. Fred F. Bartok became the sixth president of Butler County Community College on July 1, 1994. For 10 years prior, he was the executive dean/vice president of the North Campus of the Community College of Allegheny County. His 29 years of diverse community college experience included serving as a faculty member in the banking and finance program, assistant to the executive dean, dean of instruction, and executive dean.

He was co-author of several articles on various topics and wrote a textbook on personal finance. He serves on the local boards of Butler Memorial Hospital, Leadership Butler, Meadowcroft Village, and the Butler Historical Society. His community activities included but were not limited to the United Way campaign, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Regions Working Together Consortium. He was a member of the National Commission for Workforce Training and Development, the Governor's Executive Committee of the Campus Compact National Center, the Executive Council of PA Campus Compact, and president of the board of directors of the PA Commission for Community Colleges.

Dr. Thaddeus Penar, the fifth President of Butler County Community College, brought almost 30 years of college administration and faculty experience as a professor and dean. From 1953-1990, he served in various capacities at Grove City College. At Grove City College, he serves as treasurer, vice president of academic affairs, vice president of business affairs, and registrar.

Dr. Penar received his doctorate and master of education degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. His doctorate concentrated on guidance, supervision, and business while his master's degree concentrated on business and school administration. He completed his bachelor of science degree in commerce at Grove City College. 

Dr. William N. Price brought more than 20 years of community college administration experience as a dean and president. From 1974-1983, he was the chief executive officer at Lexington Community College in Kentucky. Before his presidency, he served as an academic dean at Henderson Community College. His most recent post before assuming the fourth BC3 presidency was as the dean of instruction at Honolulu Community College in Hawaii. 

Dr. Price received his doctorate of education from the University of Arizona in 1970. He completed his bachelor of science degree at Arizona State University. His associate in arts degree was earned at Riverside City College.

Dr. Frederick W. Woodward served as acting president from 1983-1984 and vice president and dean of academic affairs at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, NY, before taking over as the third president of BC3. He has also served as dean of professional studies at the State University of New York at Plattsburg. 

Dr. Woodward received his doctorate specializing in community college administration from the University of Virginia in 1981. His master's degree and certificate of advanced studies were received from the State University of New York. His baccalaureate degree was received from Castleton State College and his associate degree was received from Champlain College. Both institutions are located in Vermont.

Dr. Thomas TenHoeve, the second president of BC3, served as academic dean of Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, prior to coming to BC3. He started at Northwestern College in 1958 as a biology instructor. He also served as acting president of the institution for six months. He worked on gaining accreditation for Northwestern College; the experience served him well in gaining accreditation for Butler County Community College.

Dr. TenHoeve received his doctorate from the University of Toledo. He completed post-doctoral studies at Purdue University, the University of Western Michigan, and North Carolina State University. He received his master of arts from the University of Michigan.

Prior to Dr. James A. Lawson becoming the first president of the college, he served as the assistant superintendent of the Bethpage Long Island schools. He also had previously been an administrator in the Butler Area Schools as the coordinator of adult education. He was largely responsible for the creation of the Butler County Education-Business Industry Committee, which ultimately played a part in the establishment of the college.

Dr. Lawson received his bachelor's degree from the California University of Pennsylvania and his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. His studies were concentrated on educational administration and supervision. He also held certificates of superintendency from both the states of New York and Pennsylvania.