After 20 years at Fresno State, Dr. Peter Smits, a leader for the fundraising campaign that raised $214.2 million for the university, announced he will retire on June 30, 2014.

After a 44-year career in higher education, Fresno State President Joseph Castro said Smits, 66, told him he would retire.

“He brought it up himself,” Castro said. “He said he thought it was a good time for him and his wife to do different things together.­ He decided it was a good time for him.”

During his tenure at Fresno State, Smits, vice president for university advancement, developed a national reputation for his work improving alumni relations, communications and fundraising.

“University advancement is aimed at helping the university deepen and strengthen its relationships with different stakeholders outside the university, like donors, people in the media, people in the state legislature, Congress, and local government,” Castro said.­ “He’s done a great job of cultivating those relationships.”

Smits was an important force, Castro said, in the university’s seven-year fundraising effort that resulted in the second-largest campaign in the California State University system.

According to a university release, Fresno State regularly ranks among the top fundraising schools in the 23-campus CSU system.

“At the core, it is about developing and strengthening relationships with people, businesses and foundations,” Castro said. “He also formed a great team.­ He’s hired fabulous people to help him.”

The team that worked with Smits extended beyond his department.

Dennis Woods, founder of United Security Bank and co-chair of the fundraising campaign, said Smits and his coworkers in university advancement were easy to work with.

Woods said it will take time for Smits’ replacement to become familiar with the extensive network of donors.

“A new person will need time to meet donors,” Woods said. “There will be a pause because of his retirement.­ We won’t stop [fundraising], but whoever takes over will need time.”

Reaching out to alumni for donations was not his only interaction with former Fresno State students.

Clyde Ford, president of the Fresno State Alumni Association, said Smits helped the association with the resources needed to adjust its mission strategy.

Ford said Smits helped the association became more involved with students as soon as they get to campus.

“He’s been very supportive to improve the engagement part of our mission ”” engagement with students and parents,” Ford said.­ “We’ve made great strides in the last six months.”

The network Smits developed, Castro said, also extended to the political field.

“He has a really good feel for local, state and federal issues that are important to Fresno State,” Castro said.­ “He had good relationships with legislators and legislative staffs, so the next person is going to have to build from that and develop those relationships.”

Castro said the search for a replacement will start in January with a search committee and a firm hired to help. He said Smits will stay involved to help with the transition.

Castro said the university hopes to have a replacement named in time to work with Smits before he retires to ease the transition.