Meet Jamie Borba

Expanded Board Candidate Profile

Candidate Responses

Expanded Board candidate application responses.

What professional experience/s has/have most shaped who you are today?

I have spent nearly 20 years in law enforcement, working in Custody Operations, Patrol Operations, Investigations, Harbor Patrol, the Dive Team, Mounted Unit, and currently the Special Enforcement Team. Over the years, I have worked with people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, including those dealing with trauma, mental health challenges, and crisis. Those experiences are a big part of what led me to earn my Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology and want to help people in a different way. I have also owned and loved horses for most of my life, so bringing together my law enforcement experience, psychology background, and horses feels like a natural next step for me.

Please share any experience serving on nonprofit, association, corporate, community, or volunteer boards—or other leadership roles you feel have prepared you for Board service.

I was involved with GAITS to Healing, a nonprofit providing equine-assisted services. That experience allowed me to see firsthand how horses can be used to help people and strengthened my interest in this field. I also bring nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience, where I have worked in a variety of assignments and learned how to lead, work as part of a team, solve problems, and make difficult decisions. My experience as a Behavioral Health Liaison, along with my Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology, has also given me a better understanding of mental health and the importance of listening to and understanding different perspectives.

What inspired you to consider serving on Eagala’s expanded Board of Directors?

After nearly 20 years in law enforcement, I am at a point in my career where I am looking toward what comes next. I earned my Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology and have become increasingly interested in combining my experience in law enforcement and mental health with my lifelong connection to horses. My experience with GAITS to Healing showed me the potential of equine-assisted work and made me want to become more involved in the field. Serving on EAGALA’s Board would give me an opportunity to contribute my experience while also being part of an organization that represents where I see the next chapter of my professional life going.

Looking ahead five years, what do you believe is Eagala’s greatest opportunity?

I think one of EAGALA’s biggest opportunities is reaching more people who may not be comfortable with traditional therapy. I would especially like to see more programs available to first responders and veterans. After nearly 20 years in law enforcement, I have seen firsthand how hard it can be for first responders to ask for help or even admit when they are struggling. I think working with horses offers a different way to reach people who might otherwise never walk into a therapist’s office. I would love to see EAGALA continue to grow in this area and make equine-assisted services more available to these communities.

What unique experiences, perspectives, or strengths would you bring to the Board?

I think I bring a unique combination of nearly 20 years in law enforcement, a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology, and a lifelong connection with horses. Working in law enforcement has taught me how to communicate with people from all walks of life, stay calm in difficult situations, and find solutions when things are not always clear. I also understand firsthand the culture of law enforcement and why first responders can be reluctant to seek help. My psychology background gives me another perspective on mental health and trauma, while being a longtime horse owner has taught me how much horses can communicate without words. I think bringing those three parts of my life together would allow me to offer a different perspective to the Board.

Describe a time when you worked with people who held viewpoints that differed from your own. What did you learn from that experience?

Law enforcement has put me in situations throughout my career where I have worked with people who had very different viewpoints from my own. I have learned that I don’t have to agree with someone to listen to them and understand where they are coming from. Sometimes hearing another person’s perspective has caused me to look at a situation differently or recognize something I may have missed. I have also learned that people work better together when they feel heard and respected. I think being able to have difficult conversations, while still respecting different opinions, is important when working as part of a team.

What does stewardship mean to you?

To me, stewardship means taking care of something you have been trusted with and leaving it better than you found it. It means making decisions based on what is best for the organization and the people it serves, not just what is best for you personally. In law enforcement, I have spent my career being entrusted with responsibility to the community, and I take that responsibility seriously. I think serving on a Board carries that same kind of responsibility—to listen, be accountable, protect what makes the organization successful, and also be willing to help it grow and improve.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you that isn’t reflected elsewhere in this application?

I am currently completing my clinical hours toward psychologist licensure, with experience in neuropsychology, neurofeedback, and neuromapping. Outside of work, my family and I have a small ranch that keeps us busy with 31 chickens, 2 horses, 2 dogs, 2 goats, 2 pigs, a bunny, a cat, and a bearded dragon. Animals are truly a part of our everyday life.

Areas of Experience

The candidate selected the following areas of meaningful knowledge or experience: