Life-long resident of Monmouth County and a product of its public school system, Dr. Lester W. Richens received his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Arts in Education from Monmouth University and his Doctorate of Education from Rutgers University.

Dr. Richens started his professional career in 1968 as a teacher in Freehold Township. He left Freehold Township to become Principal of Belmar Elementary in 1973 and was appointed superintendent of Schools in Belmar in 1979. While Superintendent in Belmar, Dr. Richens served as a member of the New Association of School Administrators Executive Board and as President of the Monmouth County Round Table.

He has also been an adjunct professor for Monmouth University and Georgian Court University, teaching educational leadership courses.

Dr. Richens retired from Belmar as Superintendent in 2007; he was then appointed Executive County Superintendent for Burlington County, serving in that position from 2008-2011. Dr. Richens has served as a State Fiscal Monitor from 2011-2015 and was appointed Interim Executive County Superintendent for Monmouth County in April 2015.

He joined the Brookdale Board of Trustees in April 2015.

Dr. Richens is married and has one married daughter as well as one grandson.