January 5, 2023
After three years as Opera Santa Barbara’s Director of Development, Nina Dunbar will leave on January 15 to undertake the position of Donor Advisement Officer at the Santa Barbara Education Foundation. In her new role Nina will be overseeing the foundation’s relationships with major donors interested in supporting programs that enrich the academic, artistic and personal development of Santa Barbara Unified School District students.
“Working with Opera Santa Barbara’s community of artists and passionate supporters has been a highlight of my career. I’m leaving this position with a new appreciation for the complex beauty and emotional wallop of opera. But most of all, I will miss the people who make opera possible in Santa Barbara all year round—my extraordinary colleagues, our tireless board, and the courageous audiences who kept coming to our shows throughout the pandemic–I look forward to sitting with you at the Granada and Lobero for seasons to come. And, please, don’t forget to donate!”
“Nina’s contributions to our financial stability, the building of our fundraising muscle, refining our communications, and bringing best practices to OSB cannot be overstated”, said Opera Santa Barbara’s Artistic and General Director Kostis Protopapas. “She has been a terrific team player, and we will all miss her candid, straight-to-the-point approach and sense of humor. The entire OSB family is deeply grateful to Nina for her amazing work, friendship, and love for our company, and we wish her every success in her new position.”
