The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) has appointed Jessica Tade as its deputy director.

Tade, who holds a Ph.D in art history from UCSB, has worked more than a decade for organizations either promoting the arts or providing access and opportunity to the community.

Among other positions, she has served as the director of communications and marketing for the Santa Barbara Foundation, director of marketing and communications for the Santa Barbara City College Foundation, and executive director of Casa del Herrero, a historic house museum and National Landmark in Montecito.

In addition to her professional positions, Tade has served on the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation Board of Directors, and was a commissioner for the Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission and the Human Services Commission of Santa Barbara County. She is also the recipient of the Pacific Coast Business Times 40 Under 40 Award.

In her role at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Tade will be working with executive director Greg Gorga, initially overseeing operations and marketing, before adding other responsibilities in the future.

“I am delighted to have Jessica join the museum,” Gorga said. “She brings a wealth of experience in museum management, strategic planning, and communications that will enable the museum to move forward in exciting new ways.

“With more than 10 years of work in various local nonprofit organizations, Jessica is also uniquely qualified to help us expand our collaborations with other museums and groups in the area.”