5-13-08

Media Release

New Vice President to Head OSU Foundation Office in Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. – Carol Van Natta, vice chancellor for advancement at the University of Washington’s Tacoma campus, has accepted a position as the head of Oregon State University Foundation’s office in Portland.

Van Natta will begin her duties as Portland Center vice president on July 14. In this new position, she will lead efforts to increase private support for OSU in the metropolitan area. With nearly 40,000 alumni in greater Portland, the region is home to more than 25 percent of the university’s graduates.

Van Natta’s background combines fundraising expertise with experience in connecting a branch campus to its home university. In her current role, she led University of Washington Tacoma’s first capital campaign of more than $40 million. She previously served as a development officer at the University of Denver, University of Texas at San Antonio and University of Missouri-Kansas City, in addition to other roles.

“The OSU Foundation Portland position is a perfect fit for me,” Van Natta said. “It will allow me to use my skills in fundraising, community relations and marketing, developed over more than 30 years in higher education, to help advance a great institution in Oregon’s primary market. I can’t wait to get started.”

Mike Goodwin, president and CEO of the OSU Foundation, stressed the importance of the new leadership role at a key moment in institutional history. Last fall the university launched its first comprehensive fundraising campaign, the $625-million Campaign for OSU.

“We are eager to strengthen our connections with alumni and Portland civic and business leaders. Carol will do a great job of reaching out and building those relationships,” Goodwin said. “She is an excellent communicator and has a tremendous record of success.”

Born in Vancouver, Wash., Van Natta received her bachelor’s degree in English at Portland State University. She earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Van Natta will join OSU Portland staff ranging from 13 foundation employees to those supporting alumni activities, Beaver sports marketing, Extended Campus, forestry outreach, government relations and the Open Source Lab.