EUGENE–Karen Kreft, a state administrator in Oregon for the past 14 years, has started work as the new executive director of the University of Oregon Foundation.

Kreft, 36, replaces Jon V. Jaqua, who left the job after three years to spend more time on his cattle ranch and other businesses and with his family.

As executive director of the foundation, Kreft reports to the 52-member Board of Trustees and supervises the finance and investment, donor research, information services, and communications functions of the foundation. She also works closely with Kathryn Owen, UO associate vice president for development, and Duncan McDonald, UO vice president for public affairs and development, to support the university’s private fund-raising efforts.

Born and raised in Pendleton, Kreft has worked in the Oregon Economic Development Department for the past three years as central services manager and fiscal services manager. Before that, she worked for 11 years in the Department of Administrative Services as a budget analyst, statewide analyst and business manager.

"We look forward to having Karen’s energy and expertise to guide the foundation as we increase our endowments to support the university," says UO Foundation President Randy Papé. "We have great confidence that Karen will continue the great work that Jon Jaqua accomplished for the foundation over the past three years. We are truly grateful for Jon’s many contributions to the foundation."

Kreft says she was attracted to the foundation job because it is a "new challenge outside central state government."

Also, she says, "Improving higher education has such an impact on Oregon’s future citizens. In economic development, our focus is healthy communities. This job fits right into that–enhancing Oregon’s quality of life."

Kreft completed the Leadership Oregon program, which provides special leadership training for selected state employees, in 1995.

Kreft is a 1984 business graduate of the University of Montana, where she received an athletic scholarship to play varsity volleyball. She earlier earned a degree from Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, where she was on the volleyball, basketball and track teams.

Kreft and her three sisters all set track-and-field records at Pendleton High School, where Karen graduated in 1980. Her father, George McClendon, is a retired junior high school teacher in Pendleton, and her mother, JoAnn, is a retired elementary school secretary.

Kreft recently served as vice president of the board of directors for Oregon Housing and Associated Services, a nonprofit organization in Salem that provides transportation and housing for elderly and disabled citizens. She also has participated in athletic fund-raising events for organizations including the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association.

Her husband, John, is director of quality for the Oregon State Treasury.

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