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Position
Endowment Chair
2019-20
Year Joined
2008
Biography

Melissa Gough has been a member of the Women's Fund since 2008, when she joined the Research Committee. For the past five years she has served as Finance Chair and Chair of the Endowment Committee and currently is CFO/Treasurer as well as Endowment Chair. In her professional life, Melissa is Director of Development for the Division of Economics and Social Sciences at UCSB. In her role, she supports departmental initiatives and student development programs focusing on Feminist Studies, Global Studies and Anthropology and coordinates all departmental Planned Giving opportunities.  Prior to UCSB, Melissa held various regional leadership positions in Banking, Financial Management and Estate Planning, working with Union Bank, Morgan Stanley Private Bank, First Republic Bank and Bank of America. Melissa is a graduate of the Cornell University Leadership Management program and holds a bachelor's degree in Organizational Psychology from UCSB. A 40+ year resident of Santa Barbara, she serves on the Board of the United Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara County and is Finance Chair and Treasurer for La Cumbre Country Club. She is a recipient of the Founder's Award for the Police Activities League and the Navy Leaguer of the Year award from the Navy League of the United States. Melissa enjoys food, wine and golf and is a member of the Santa Barbara Wine and Food Society, the International Food and Wine Society and La Cumbre Country Club.