The Board of Directors of Santa Barbara’s Mental Wellness Center has selected Liat Wasserman as the organization’s next chief executive officer.
She will succeed Annmarie Cameron, who has led the center since 1992 and is preparing to retire. Wasserman joined the Mental Wellness Center in 2022 as director of development and communications, and most recently served as chief development and communications officer.
“We conducted a thorough search and met with a strong field of candidates,” said Scott Lochridge, chair of the Mental Wellness Center Board. “Liat rose to the top because of her vision, leadership and deep commitment to our mission.
“We are profoundly grateful for Annmarie’s remarkable legacy and confident that Liat will lead Mental Wellness Center into its next chapter.”
During her tenure, Wasserman expanded the center’s fundraising efforts, growing annual philanthropic support by more than 300%.
She has also strengthened relationships with donors, foundations, and community partners, securing new resources that help sustain the center’s free mental health services and deepen its reach, the organization said.
“Mental health challenges touch not only individuals, but all of us who love them,” Wasserman said. “That understanding has shaped my commitment to this work and the leader I strive to be – one guided by compassion, purpose, and the belief that human connection and access to supportive resources can change lives.”
The leadership transition comes as the center prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2027. Founded as the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Southern California Mental Hygiene Society, the organization now reaches more than 8,000 individuals and family members annually through support, education and housing.
When Cameron became CEO, the center had three core programs and two residential homes serving 12 people. Under her leadership, it has expanded to seven housing sites, established a permanent home for the Fellowship Club on Garden Street, and brought mental health education into local classrooms.
Today, the Fellowship Club welcomes more than 20,800 visits annually, while the center’s mental health education programs reach more than 2,090 students each year.
“After all these years, what stays with me isn’t the buildings or programs. It’s the people — their courage, their determination, and what becomes possible when someone is given the chance to thrive,” Cameron said.
“In the months ahead, Cameron and Wasserman will work together to ensure a thoughtful transition, building on the strength of an organization shaped by dedicated leadership, a caring staff, and community support,” the center said.
Plans are in the works to mark Mental Wellness Center’s 80 years, including two key events.
The Peace of Mind Walk, during Mental Health Awareness Month in May, will bring individuals and families together to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
One Shining Night, an evening celebrating mental wellness, will take place in the fall.
Mental Wellness Center provides mental health education, support and resources to individuals and families throughout Santa Barbara.
Programs include mental health education in local schools; guidance and support for families; the Fellowship Club, a welcoming community for adults living with serious mental illness; and housing and residential services that provide a stable home for more than 100 community members across seven sites.
For more, visit https://mentalwellnesscenter.org/.