The WSU Foundation named a new senior vice president and chief operating officer Monday. Jeff Puckett is excited to take on the new position, which was vacant for 16 months "I just couldn't be happier with what I do ... it is a very meaningful experience," he said.

The foundation has managed private funding and donations to WSU since 1979. The foundation distributes the accumulated funds to enhance the overall WSU community through the funding of research programs, scholarships and facilities.

Puckett said he has taken on many leadership roles during his career at WSU and other universities. He joined the WSU staff in 1999 as the director of development with the Department of Liberal Arts. Puckett has since taken several fundraising positions within the foundation, including roles as the director of corporate and foundation relations, executive director of the WSU Athletic Foundation, and most recently, as the director of campaigns. The leadership staff at the foundation is excited about Puckett’s promotion. Brenda Wilson-Hale, vice president for university development and chief executive officer of the foundation, said in an e-mail that Puckett is a "determined, detail-oriented, a successful fundraiser and a genuinely caring and concerned manager."

Puckett said the foundation does noble work, is a people-oriented business and is essentially about relationship building. There is always the need to increase resources to benefit the university's programs, he said.

In his new position, Puckett will be responsible for managing day-to-day activities and leadership structure of the Foundation.

"(I plan on) continuously improving the quality of the operations and development capacity of the WSU Foundation," he said. Puckett said for the upcoming year, he plans to maintain the foundation's fundraising momentum. Wilson-Hale said the foundation recieved $324 million in donations last year. "It's only through fundraising that WSU is able to realize its excellence as a land grant and teaching university," said Trever Durham, director of communications with the foundation. Puckett said the foundation generates money through its relationships with corporations, other foundations and individuals. The donor base includes a significant number of individuals, including alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff and coaches, Puckett said. These funds are then applied where they are needed. At least one-third of the funds are designated to scholarships, ranging from need-based, merit and athletic scholarships. Funding also supports academic programs at the university and research-related projects. However, Puckett said the foundation strives to match the donor's interests with the university's goals and priorities.