The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced today that Will Summer has been named as the next director of the N.C. Division of Land and Water Stewardship and Executive Director of the N.C. Land and Water Fund (NCLWF). Summer served as the interim director for the past seven months and as deputy director since 2017. He has also served NCLWF in other roles since joining the organization in 2008, including Field Representative and Stewardship Manager.
“Will Summer is a strong leader whose extensive experience and institutional knowledge make him an ideal fit to guide the Division of Land and Water Stewardship during a crucial period of growth,” said D. Reid Wilson, secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “He has dedicated his career to protecting North Carolina’s water quality, open spaces, and treasured cultural resources, and he understands their importance to our state’s health, economy, and quality of life.”
Since its creation in 1996 by the General Assembly, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, formerly known as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, has conserved well over one-half million acres and protected or restored 3,000 miles of streams and rivers. As a result of the recently enacted state budget, the NCLWF in 2021 awarded over $60 million in grants to nonprofit land conservation organizations and local and state government agencies and anticipates awarding $75 million in grants in 2022. The Division of Land and Water Stewardship also includes the Natural Heritage Program, which serves as an information clearinghouse in support of conservation of the rarest and most outstanding elements of natural diversity in the state.
"Will is perfect for the job, both professionally and personally. He knows every aspect of the Land and Water Fund and the entire division so well, and has the support and admiration of our staff, trustees and partners,” said John Wilson, chair of the NCLWF Board of Trustees. “He’s done an incredible job as interim director over the past several months, putting us in a very strong position despite especially challenging times with COVID and prolonged state budget negotiations."
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve the department in this capacity,” Summer said. “We have great leadership in the department, an excellent and engaged board of trustees, staff that is second to none, and thanks to Governor Cooper and the N.C. General Assembly, we have the resources to make a real impact on the conservation landscape. In my 13 years with the organization, I cannot think of a more exciting time to be in this role.”
Summer holds a Bachelor of Science in Forest Environmental Resources and a Master of Science in Forest Hydrology, both from the University of Georgia. He lives in Raleigh, his home for the last 16 years, with his wife, Heather, two children, and two beagles.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, three science museums, three aquariums and Jennette's Pier, 41 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the N.C. Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, and the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.