Bernard “B.J.” Davisson is executive vice president for development and chief development officer at the West Virginia University Foundation where he oversees all facets of private fundraising. This includes having led the closing years of the Foundation’s historic and successful $1.2 billion “State of Minds” comprehensive campaign.

A senior executive with over 30 years of experience in both higher education and healthcare fundraising, including nearly a decade of work at the prestigious John Hopkins University, Davisson began work at WVU in April 2015.

Prior to his current position, he was the senior associate vice president for development and alumni relations at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he worked closely with institutional leaders, key volunteers, and a large and diverse development staff in securing significant gifts.

A native of Westernport, Md., Davisson 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.