Meghan Cowan
The Institute for Public Procurement has awarded Meghan Cowan, assistant director of Procurement, University of Central Arkansas, with the NIGP-CPP certification—the fastest growing globally recognized public procurement certification available.
Achieving the NIGP-CPP affirms that the entity, the supplier community, and the public are working with a procurement professional who has achieved the competencies needed to be a successful leader and has demonstrated mastery in business principles and public procurement strategy.
“Earning my Certified Procurement Professional (CPP) certification is more than an achievement—it’s a powerful step forward in my commitment to strategic leadership, innovative sourcing, and creating lasting impact in the evolving world of procurement,” Cowan said.
The NIGP-CPP has achieved accreditation from the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the most prestigious personnel certification accreditation program worldwide. This achievement validates that the NIGP-CPP certification, attained by more than 1,500 procurement leaders, meets the rigorous standards of ANAB through the ANSI ISO 17024 standards. These standards are critically important to the public procurement community which frequently incorporates ANSI and ISO requirements in bid specifications and assessments.
NIGP-CPP is the only certification anchored in the Public Procurement Competency Framework. The Framework is rooted in research produced by the Volcker Alliance which seeks effective public service through workforce competencies. NIGP-CPP is a key component of the NIGP Pathways program which integrates learning with credentialing. As the profession evolves through new research, standards, and best practices, the NIGP-CPP will continually adapt, ensuring that the certification remains relevant.
NIGP-CPP represents the future of public procurement certification.
Cowan holds a bachelor’s in psychology and sociology and a master’s in family and consumer Sciences at UCA. She has worked at UCA for over 15 years.
About NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement
With over 17,000 professionals from more than 2,600 local, state, provincial and federal government contracting agencies across the United States and Canada, NIGP has been developing, supporting, and promoting the public procurement profession through premier educational and research programs, professional development, technical services, and advocacy initiatives that benefit members and other important stakeholders.
