Summer Medina Takes the Helm as Cumberland County’s New Administrator

At its July 14 meeting, the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors announced a new face at the county’s executive desk: Summer Medina. The board said it was a “thoughtful, thorough recruitment process” and they’re confident Medina’s mix of experience, leadership chops, and genuine love for public service make her a perfect fit.

Medina isn’t a stranger to the area. She grew up on a farm on the western edge of neighboring Powhatan County, and over the years she’s spent plenty of time in Cumberland. “It feels like home,” she told the board, adding that she’s thrilled to give back to a community that’s always felt close to her roots.

Her résumé reads like a road map of local‑government work. She earned a BA and an MPA from James Madison University, then went on to serve as assistant town manager in New Market before taking a planning role in Goochland County. “I chose this career because it lets me make a real, lasting impact on the places people call home,” Medina explained. Her first official day as county administrator will be August 3.

While Medina steps into the top spot, the board also clarified the duties of the assistant county administrator for finance and administration. Under Virginia law and a county ordinance, that role automatically becomes interim administrator whenever the chief seat is vacant. Currently, Jennifer Crews holds that assistant position and will step in if needed.

The meeting didn’t stop at appointments. The board re‑appointed three members of the Department of Social Services—Shawn Rozier (District 2), Matt Seal (District 3) and Danielle Vaughan (District 5)—whose terms expired at the end of July. It also confirmed several long‑time planning commissioners: Stephen Donahue, Steve Rosen, and Matt Seal, each with a history of service and recent certifications from the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at VCU. One planning‑board seat, however, remains open.

Two public‑hearing items made the agenda. First, the Farmville Seventh‑Day Adventist Church asked for a 165‑foot radio tower on a 7.4‑acre parcel in the A‑2 Agricultural Zoning District at 2086 Cumberland Road. The second request was a conditional use permit for Mega Mini Golf, looking to place a miniature‑golf course on a 3.42‑acre lot in the R‑2 Residential Zone at 3945 Cumberland Road. Both proposals cleared the board’s hurdles.

As the sun set on that busy July afternoon, the supervisors wrapped up with a sense of forward motion—new leadership, fresh appointments, and a couple of development projects cleared for the community. All eyes now turn to Medina’s first weeks in office, as she begins to shape the next chapter for Cumberland County.