Cumberland County now has a new Assistant County Manager for Community Support. The County’s Director of Social Services, Heather Skeens, has been promoted from her current roll and will begin her new position on Oct. 3. 

Skeens has a 30- year career in Human Services branching across several counties. 

She has worked for Cumberland county as the DSS Director since December 6, 2021 and before that,  served as Health and Human Services Director in Guilford County. 

Before returning to the area for her current position, Skeens previously worked for the Cumberland County DSS for eight years, serving as Assistant Director of Children’s Services and the Deputy Director. 

Her experience also includes service in Onslow County, and with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Skeens received an undergraduate degree in psychology at Sweet Briar College in Virginia and her M.B.A. from University of Maryland, College Park. 

With her current work as  Cumberland County DSS Director, Skeens works with the administration of one of the largest county social services departments in North Carolina with more than 700 employees and a budget of more than $600 million. 

“Heather has done an exceptional job during her time as Cumberland County’s Social Services Director, and in her previous position in Guilford County, she also supervised the functions of Public Health, Child Support, Veterans Services, Mental Health and Homelessness,” said Cumberland County Manager Amy Cannon in a press release. “Heather will be an asset to our team and her vast background in Human Services will be valuable in advancing several of the Board’s priorities. I am excited to bring her into the County Management team and know she will be of great benefit to our organization and to the citizens of Cumberland County.”