Michelle Borden retires following nearly three decades with NewBridge;
Carolyn Dean named Executive Director
POMPTON PLAINS, NJ — After nearly three decades of dedicated service to NewBridge Services, Michelle Borden, LCSW, retired as President and CEO effective September 1, leaving a legacy of leadership, growth, and service as NewBridge looks ahead to its future within Christian Health. Carolyn Dean, MA, a NewBridge leader with more than 25 years of service to the organization, has been appointed Executive Director, also effective September 1. Borden will remain with Christian Health as Senior Transition Advisor through the end of 2026 to support a smooth leadership transition.
Borden joined NewBridge in 1997 and rose through increasingly senior leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer, before being named CEO in 2020. Throughout her tenure, she helped shape NewBridge’s growth, expand its programs and services, and build strong partnerships across northern New Jersey.
“NewBridge has been so much more than a job to me. It has been an extraordinary community of people united by a belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a full and meaningful life,” Borden said. “I am incredibly proud of what we have built together and grateful to the employees, board members, donors, volunteers, partners, and communities who have made this work possible. As I step into retirement, I do so with tremendous gratitude for the people who have made NewBridge what it is today and great confidence in all that lies ahead.”
Borden came to NewBridge with significant clinical and behavioral health leadership experience, including more than a decade overseeing psychiatric and substance-use programs at East Orange General Hospital. At NewBridge, she combined that clinical expertise with an ability to bring organizations, government agencies, and community partners together to address complex challenges. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Borden helped establish the Morris County Human Services Response Network. This effort contributed to New Jersey becoming one of the first states to certify crisis counselors for disaster response. She later provided psychological first aid to communities devastated by flooding.
When Borden became CEO in April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was creating unprecedented challenges for individuals, families, and service organizations. Under her leadership, NewBridge rapidly expanded telehealth counseling and online mental health resources while continuing to support vulnerable individuals throughout the crisis. During her tenure as CEO, NewBridge continued to expand its programs, established a new headquarters and campus in Pompton Plains, and strengthened its ability to provide counseling, housing, education, and community-based services throughout northern New Jersey.
Borden also helped guide one of the most significant developments in NewBridge’s history: its partnership and subsequent integration with Christian Health. NewBridge became part of Christian Health in 2024, bringing together two longstanding nonprofit organizations and expanding Christian Health’s continuum of mental health, housing, education, and community-based services into Hudson, Morris, and Sussex counties. The integration brings together the strengths, expertise, and resources of both organizations, creating new opportunities to expand access, strengthen programs, and extend their collective impact across northern New Jersey.
“Michelle has always understood that NewBridge’s strength comes from its people and its deep connections throughout the region,” said Debbie King, Chair of the NewBridge Services Board of Trustees and daughter of one of NewBridge’s founders. “She has carried that spirit forward for nearly three decades. Her knowledge, compassion, and commitment to the people NewBridge serves have shaped this organization in countless ways, and we are profoundly grateful to her.”
Borden’s leadership has also been recognized throughout New Jersey. Most recently, the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies honored her with its 2025 Outstanding Leadership Award, recognizing her clinical expertise, crisis leadership, and commitment to NewBridge and those it serves.
“Michelle’s impact extends far beyond the walls of NewBridge,” said Stephen J. Dumke, LNHA, FACHE, President and CEO of Christian Health. “She has spent her career bringing people together, building meaningful partnerships, and advocating for individuals who need support. Christian Health has benefited tremendously from her leadership throughout our integration, and the strength of NewBridge today is an enduring part of her legacy.”
Dean brings more than 25 years of experience at NewBridge to her new role as Executive Director. She joined the organization in 1999 as a residential case manager and has advanced through a series of clinical and leadership roles, most recently serving as Executive Director of Community Outreach and Support. Dean earned her master’s degree in clinical and counseling psychology from Columbia University and has played a key role in NewBridge’s housing and community-based programs. In 2013, she received the Outstanding Care/Case Manager Award from the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies in recognition of her commitment to those NewBridge serves.
As Executive Director, Dean will lead the day-to-day operations of NewBridge’s housing, education, and community services programs and report to Amy Shotmeyer Porter, Esq., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Christian Health.
“I have had the privilege of working alongside Michelle and seeing firsthand the commitment she brings to NewBridge, our employees, and the people we serve,” Dean said. “It is an honor to take on this responsibility. I look forward to building on the foundation Michelle and generations of NewBridge leaders and employees have created while working with our colleagues across Christian Health to continue strengthening and advancing NewBridge’s programs.”
As she steps into retirement, Borden expressed confidence in both NewBridge’s new leadership and its future within Christian Health.
“I have always believed that NewBridge’s greatest strength is its people,” Borden said. “That is why I am so optimistic about what comes next. Carolyn knows this organization, understands the people and places we serve, and cares deeply about our mission. With the NewBridge team and the resources and partnership of Christian Health behind them, I know NewBridge is positioned to continue making a difference for many years to come.”
About NewBridge Services
NewBridge Services, part of Christian Health, is a nonprofit provider of counseling, housing, education, and community-based services serving children, adults, and older adults throughout northern New Jersey. Founded in 1963, NewBridge has evolved for more than six decades to provide programs and resources that help individuals and families overcome challenges and live better.
Media Contact:
Kelly Tanis
(201) 848-5921
KTanis@ChristianHealthNJ.org
