Maryam D. Farhas of Orcutt been appointed executive director of the Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum.
“Farhas is a seasoned leader in nonprofit management, whose vision and expertise will be instrumental in unlocking the organization’s full potential,” according to museum founder Ashley Jenkins.
“With Dr. Farhas at the helm, we are poised to elevate our impact and exceed the evolving expectations of the community we serve,” Jenkins said.
Farhas said she “is thrilled to serve in this capacity and looks forward to joining an already amazing team who have done the groundwork to build a long-lasting organization,” the museum said.
A native of San Diego, Farhas entered college at the age of 16, and built her credentials with a bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees, a doctorate in public administration, and other certifications in the nonprofit sector. She is also a licensed psychotherapist.
Farhas has devoted her professional career to the nonprofit sector, having created solutions and ways to help enhance the quality of life for those she serves, including efforts in managing and expanding early childhood development programs.
She was part of a team at UCSD, Sharp Hospital, Rady’s Children’s Hospital & Health Center in San Diego, and various nonprofit agencies in the Central Coast including St. Vincent’s in Santa Barbara.