A senior executive with nearly 30 years of experience in both higher education and healthcare fundraising, including nearly a decade of work at the prestigious John Hopkins University, has been chosen as the new senior vice president of development and chief development officer for the West Virginia University Foundation.

Bernard J. (“B.J.”) Davisson II, will begin his new position April 27, WVU Foundation President and CEO Cindi Roth announced Friday (March 13).

“I am thrilled that B.J. has agreed to join our WVU Foundation team,” Roth said. “He brings a wealth of talent and diverse experience in all facets of philanthropic operations and programming. His depth of knowledge in healthcare will really help us grow in key areas of patient care, research and education fundraising. I am confident that B.J. will strengthen our integration as we create ‘One WVU’.”

Davisson is currently the senior associate vice president for development and alumni relations at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he works closely with institutional leaders, key volunteers, and a large and diverse development staff in securing significant gifts. His primary duties include coordinating the principal gifts ($1 million plus) and planned gift operations.

“I am honored and excited to have been chosen to assume this leadership role with the WVU Foundation,” Davisson said. “I have been immensely impressed with the key volunteers and staff members I have met. The dedication that they have for the institution and its mission is contagious and is clearly a significant factor in the great success that the Foundation has enjoyed thus far.”

Prior to his work at George Washington, Davisson served in various senior development and progressive advancement roles, including positions at Frostburg State University (2007-2012) in Frostburg, Md., and Johns Hopkins University (1997-2006) in Baltimore, Md.

Davisson, a native of Westernport, Md., earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Frostburg State University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from The Ohio State University.

He and his wife, Krista, an attorney and also a Frostburg State and Ohio State graduate, look forward to joining the Mountaineer community.

Celebrating 60 years of service to the University, the WVU Foundation is currently conducting the largest capital campaign in the history of the University. “A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University” has raised $819 million through Dec. 31, 2014, or just over 80 percent of its $1 billion goal. The Campaign runs through December 2017.

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bn/3/13/2015

CONTACT: Bill Nevin, WVU Foundation
304-284-4056; wnevin@wvuf.org

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