Who we are

Our Staff

Annmarie Cameron

Chief Executive Officer

Bio

Gabriela Dodson, LCSW/MSW

Chief Program Officer

Bio

Liat Wasserman, MA/MSW

Chief Development Officer

Bio

Pauline Keeble

Director of Finance and Administration

Bio

photograph of Liliana Hernandez, Assistant Director of Wellness and Recovery Programs

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Annmarie Cameron

Chief Executive Officer

acameron@mentalwellnesscenter.org

(805) 884-8440 ext 6319

Annmarie is a native northern Californian who moved to the south coast to attend college in San Luis Obispo. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1986 with a degree in Psychology and Family Studies. Moving further down the coast, Annmarie moved to Santa Barbara in 1989 and quickly became a volunteer at the Fellowship Club of the Mental Wellness Center, and then went on to become the CEO.

Annmarie Cameron has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Wellness Center since 1992. During her tenure, the organization has expanded to provide additional affordable housing, educational programs in local schools and established a community center for all to access at the agency headquarters on Garden Street.

With each passing year Annmarie has become more determined to see the needs met of those who live with mental illness and those of their care giving families and friends. Education, practical solutions such as affordable housing and integrated healthcare promoting early intervention resources are her top priorities.

Gabriela Dodson, LCSW, MSW

Director of Wellness & Recovery Programs
gdodson@mentalwellnesscenter.org
(805) 884-8440 ext 3296

Gabriela Dodson, LCSW, MSW, is our Director of Wellness & Recovery Programs, a position that pairs well with her more than 25 years of professional experience in mental health developing holistic programming, working with people experiencing mental illness and homelessness, as well as directing clinical services and hospice-based programming. Gabriela is charged with expanding our programs, services, and education outreach to meet the community’s needs at organizations including Family Service Agency, Santa Barbara Public Defender’s office, and Hospice of Santa Barbara.

Pauline Keeble

Administration/Finance Manager
pkeeble@mentalwellnesscenter.org
(805) 884-8440 ext 7237

Pauline Keeble, Director of Finance & Administration, and has been serving Mental Wellness Center for over 10 years leading business office operations. Pauline oversees the MWC administration, facilities contracts, and all MWC accounting and regulatory reporting. Additionally, she has oversight over the Garden Street and Eleanor Apartments.

Nick Papageorge, LMFT

Residential Services Manager
npapageorge@mentalwellnesscenter.org
(805) 884-8440 ext 3246

Nick Papageorge is a long-time resident of the Central Coast. He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in clinical psychology at Antioch University, Santa Barbara. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist and credits his long-time therapist for inspiring him and piquing his interest in psychology.

As Director of Residential Services, Nick is primarily responsible for the oversight and operations of Mental Wellness Center’s four licensed Adult Residential Facilities which permanently house adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses.

Nick loves those he serves and those he works with, and couldn’t imagine working anywhere other than Mental Wellness Center.

Liat Wasserman, MA/MSW

Director of Development & Communications
lwasserman@mentalwellnesscenter.org
(805) 637-6151

Liat Wasserman, MA/MSW, comes to Mental Wellness Center after a career in public relations, several years as a grant writer and, most recently, Development and Communications Director at Unity Shoppe. Wasserman brings strategic thinking, effective communications, event planning and donor relations experience to her work with all groups – clients, foundations, corporate and private donors, and all other supporters. A mother of two, Wasserman has spent years volunteering in her area of expertise by serving on committees and boards for local causes: education, cross-cultural communication, religious and ethnic diversity, and event branding.

Julieta Silva

Family Advocate

jsilva@mentalwellnesscenter.org

(805) 325-5580

Julieta Silva is a Santa Barbara native. She graduated from California State University Channel Islands in 2017 with a BA in Liberal Studies. Prior to joining Mental Wellness Center as a Family Advocate in support of NAMI SB, Julieta worked as a teacher in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. In her current position, she helps families in need of resources for their loved ones experiencing mental illness. Additionally, Julieta facilitates a twice-weekly Family Support Group via zoom and in-person at 617 Garden Street. Family members in need of resources can schedule a one-one-one session with Julieta at jsilva@mentalwellnesscenter.org.

We can’t underestimate the power we have as individuals to provide the support that people need to transition from a place of pain to a place of possibility.

Dr. Vivek Murthy
U.S. Surgeon General