Contact: Julia Black-DeVré
Director of Marketing & Communications
805.963.4458 x 1110
JuliaB@DVsolutions.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Domestic Violence Solutions Welcomes Community Leader Marilyn Simon-Gersuk as New Executive Director
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., December 23, 2021 – Domestic Violence Solutions (DVS) for Santa Barbara County is proud to announce the appointment of Marilyn Simon-Gersuk as its new executive director.
Simon-Gersuk brings a wealth of powerful knowledge and expertise to the position. She is a seasoned professional with over three decades of non-profit management, fundraising, and operations experience.
“I am thrilled to take on the executive leadership position at Domestic Violence Solutions,” said Simon-Gersuk. “The board and staff have built a strong organization focused on delivering the agency’s mission. I am fully committed to building on the strong foundation they have established to meet the needs in our community. I look forward to actively participating in DVS’s critical and impactful work and expanding community support.”
Simon-Gersuk, a native Californian, moved to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles in 2013 to work for the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara and from that time became an active community member. She most recently served as the Associate Executive Director at the American Friends of the Hebrew University. Before that role, she helped to found the international myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) research organization Open Medicine Foundation focusing her efforts on building broad community support and a strong fundraising foundation.
Simon-Gersuk is committed to serving her community, positively impacting people’s lives, and building brighter futures. As a volunteer, she is currently a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) with CASA of Santa Barbara County, on the Mesa Shul of Santa Barbara board, and has been a youth soccer referee. She and her husband, David Gersuk, have three adult children and three rescue dogs.
“We are delighted to welcome Marilyn Simon-Gersuk as our new executive director,” said Michelle Piotrowski, board president for DVS. “She brings professionalism, enthusiasm, deep passion for our cause, and decades of experience in the non-profit world to our organization. We feel very lucky to have found her and look forward to seeing DVS grow and thrive under her leadership.”
DVS is thankful for executive director emeritus Jan Campbell and the work her team has done to strengthen the agency. Under Campbell’s leadership, DVS improved and expanded community relationships, established a job and life skills program, provided permanent and stable housing for survivors, rapidly responded to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, remodeled its emergency shelters, and returned the agency to solid financial footing.
With Simon-Gersuk’s guidance, DVS will continue to provide safety, shelter, and support to domestic violence survivors and their families.
Domestic Violence Solutions provides safety, shelter, and support for individuals and families affected by domestic violence and collaborates with community partners to raise awareness regarding the cause, prevalence, and impact.
For more information, to make a donation or to learn about upcoming events,
please visit dvsolutions.org.
DVS 24-Hour Crisis and Information Line: 805.964.5245
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