Mental Wellness Center names Liat Wasserman chief executive officer as Annmarie Cameron prepares to retire

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The board of directors of Santa Barbara s Mental Wellness Center has selected Liat Wasserman, MA, MSW, 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 Center in 2022 as director of development communications and most recently served as chief development 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 has significantly expanded the Center’s fundraising efforts, growing annual philanthropic support by more than 300%. She has also strengthened relationships with d