Mrs. Michelle Dunbar

Michelle Dunbar joined St. Jude's in 2002 as a Family Consultant. She brought with her more than 10 years of experience helping people to overcome substance use problems. Mrs. Dunbar attended the State University of College at Cortland and SUNY Empire State College studying psychology and mathematics. Since joining the St. Jude Retreats, Mrs. Dunbar has continued her education, and has taken an active role in researching and developing St. Jude Programs.

In 2003 Mrs. Dunbar accepted the position of Co-Director of St. Jude's newest program, the Continuing Education Program. As Directors she and Mr. Dan Carter, simultaneously developed the original Continuing Education course curriculum while teaching the program.

In 2004, Mrs. Dunbar took on the position of Director of the St. Jude Twin Rivers Retreat, and then in 2005 she was elected to the Position of Executive Director overseeing all St. Jude operations. During her tenure with St. Jude's the 6-week St. Jude program has been through four major revisions, St. Jude's has added two new retreat houses to enable St. Jude's to help more people each year and has also developed a comprehensive home version of the residential program called the St. Jude Home Program, (formerly known as the Jude Thaddeus Home Program) which has undergone 3 major revisions. Mrs. Dunbar has personal experience on both sides of substance use problems, and has seen firsthand the devastation caused by the massive misinformation rampant in today's multi-billion dollar treatment industry. That is why she has dedicated her life to researching evidence based solutions, and building the most effective programs to help people to overcome their problems and take control of their lives.

While she devotes so much of her life to St. Jude's mission, her priorities also include her husband of 20 years and raising their three sons.

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