Oregon State University Foundation
Patricia Nowak is a seasoned accounting professional with extensive experience in various leadership roles. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Accounting and Controller at the Oregon State University Foundation since September 2007, Patricia has also held positions as Controller, Assistant Controller, and Accounting Manager within the same organization. Prior experience includes serving as Controller at Diamond West Lumber and Accounting Manager at Sunwest Milling. Patricia began their career as a Budget Analyst with the 31st Logistics Group at Aviano Air Base in Italy. Educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from the University of Maryland and an Associate's degree in Financial Management from the Community College of the Air Force.
Oregon State University Foundation
The OSU Foundation partners with the university to engage the broad OSU community, inspire investment and steward resources to enhance the university’s excellence and impact. The OSUF, entering its 75th year, is a nonprofit organization, separate from the university, and governed by a Board of Trustees. The OSUF and the OSU Alumni Association are integrated and employ approximately 160 professionals. While building relationships with alumni, parents and friends is a university-wide responsibility, all fundraising positions are housed in the OSU Foundation. The Foundation aspires to be one of the best foundations in North America and acts in full alignment with the university. As of June 30, 2022, the Foundation holds assets surpassing $1.1 billion and manages an endowment of more than $764.5 million. Donors gave a record $216 million in fiscal year 2022. In Oct. 2022, the Foundation publicly launched Believe It: The Campaign for OSU, the university’s second comprehensive fundraising and engagement campaign, with a $1.75 billion goal for student and faculty support, facilities and equipment and emerging strategic initiatives. Since work began on the campaign in 2017, donors have contributed more than $1 billion toward the goal. The first Campaign for OSU concluded in 2014, having raised $1.14 billion in ten years, which made OSU one of only 35 public universities at the time to have crossed the billion-dollar mark in a fundraising campaign. Between campaigns, the Foundation and university partnered on a series of successful strategic fundraising initiatives designed to advance goals in the university’s strategic plan and maintain fundraising momentum. The OSUF, under the leadership of CEO and President Shawn L. Scoville, seeks to build on this powerful momentum to support OSU’s expanding aspirations, establish industry-leading fundraising and engagement growth and further energize donors, alumni and volunteers to engage with the Believe It campaign.