New Director to Monroe's Senior Center

By Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro

I would like everyone to join me in welcoming our new Senior Center Director Karen Theer, who comes to us with a wealth of experience in nonprofits, the healthcare sector and municipal programming.

She’s held a number of distinguished titles over the course of her career, to include director of resource development with Prevent Child Abuse NJ, recreation supervisor of the East Brunswick summer day camp and youth council, recreation director of Hazlet Township and of course, her most recent position as director of East Windsor’s Senior Center.

In East Windsor, Karen was instrumental in spurring major expansions in programming and a spike in enrollment – growing the program from 389 to 1,388 members in only a few years. 

She has also spent the better part of a decade volunteering with an East Brunswick assisted living center and another six years working as a part-time certified home health aide, giving her a well-rounded perspective on senior living.

Among her many accolades, Karen has been the recipient of East Windsor’s 2016 Employee of the Year, United Way of Central Jersey’s Hometown Heroes Award in 2010 and East Brunswick Township’s Women Who Have Made a Difference Award in 2001, just to name a few.

As she settles into her new role here in Monroe, Karen has informed me that she plans to take a “listen-and-observe” approach in the coming weeks and hopes to find new ways to diversify our programming.

I’m confident she will be a great asset to our senior center, which has become a regional model for services and community engagement; and I look forward to seeing Karen make a positive difference in the lives of our residents as she continues in the rich history that’s been handed down to her.

Also, remember to browse our monthly Senior Focus or our Senior Center and Transportation calendars on the Township website, www.monroetwp.com, to stay up-to-date on available programs, activities or changes through our Office on Aging.