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PORTLAND, Ore. - Dan Peterson, formerly assistant vice president for development at University of Washington School of Medicine, has joined the Oregon State University Foundation staff as assistant vice president for gift planning. He will work from the foundation's Portland office.

Prior to his assignment at the University of Washington, Peterson worked for Washington State University and the WSU Foundation for 22 years, serving as the foundation's director of gift planning from 1997 to 2005 and then as campaign director through 2006. A member of the Washington State Bar, he earned his law degree from Seattle University after completing a bachelor's in history from WSU.

"We are thrilled to have someone with such extensive experience leading our gift planning department," said Mike Goodwin, OSU Foundation president and CEO. "Our donors will find that Dan is a wonderful resource as they establish a lasting legacy at Oregon State."

Peterson was part of the University of Washington team that raised $2.68 billion - including more than $1 billion for the School of Medicine - in an eight-year campaign that concluded this summer. Gift planning, which includes charitable annuities, trusts and bequests, is a critical part of any campaign, he noted.

"Smart tax and asset planning enables many people to make a greater impact on programs they care about than they might have dreamed possible," Peterson said. "I'm delighted to be a part of OSU's very first comprehensive campaign."

Peterson joins a growing OSU Portland staff ranging from 15 foundation employees to those supporting alumni activities, Beaver sports marketing, Extended Campus, government relations and more. In July Carol Van Natta became head of foundation activities in the metro area, and TV journalist Cathy Marshall was hired to lead regional OSU Alumni Association efforts. With nearly 40,000 Oregon State alumni in greater Portland, the area is home to more than 25 percent of the university's graduates.

The OSU Foundation is the nonprofit organization chartered to raise and administer private funds in support of Oregon State University education, research and outreach. The foundation retains assets of more than $570 million and manages the majority of OSU's composite endowment, valued at more than $430 million, which supports the university and the people it serves.