Meet Your Neighbor: Jennifer Bell, Middleburg’s New Director of Community Engagement
Written by Diane Helentjaris | Photos by Caroline Gray
Jennifer Bell’s eyes sparkle when she’s asked how she feels about Middleburg. “I think Middleburg is one of those wonderful places,” she says. “People know each other… Middleburg knows who they are, what they want. People are welcoming, friendly. People care about you and care about the community. It’s a special, wonderful place.”
Bell began her new position as Middleburg’s director of community engagement on June 29, 2026. As director, she oversees the town’s tourism and event initiatives in addition to supporting relationships between the town and its businesses. More than her positive attitude, she brings expertise and experience to the job. For nearly two decades, Bell has carved out a career helping communities flourish.
As an undergraduate at Lafayette College, she studied abroad at Regent’s College in London, England. After earning her bachelor’s degree in intellectual history from Lafayette, she pursued a graduate degree in political science, but became disenchanted. She decided to leave academia and plunge into her career. She hasn’t looked back.
Early in her professional life, she worked in programs that helped teachers and students learn about government. As a result, she traveled to Uzbekistan to serve as a referendum observer during its 2002 referendum election. She and representatives from several other countries were brought into Uzbekistan to monitor the election proceedings.
In 2007, the nonprofit Salem Main Streets, which is dedicated to downtown revitalization, hired Bell to be its executive director. Salem, Massachusetts, is famous for its historic witch trials, but Bell tapped into other community highlights. She secured grant funds, organized a large volunteer team, and helped bring in 60 new businesses. She also restarted the farmers market in Derby Square. It’s on the same land where Salem inhabitants had shopped for fruits, vegetables, eggs, and other fresh produce from 1634 until the early 1970s. Bell fondly recalls other events in Salem, such as its film festival and the combined chocolate and ice sculpture celebration. Here, her career achieved its mature shape and trajectory.
Bell has similarly served Winchester and Harrisonburg, Virginia. Her goal is to collaborate with locals to improve and strengthen communities. Tools include promoting tourism, revitalizing downtowns, and developing programs and events.
Tourism has increasingly become a financial pillar for many small towns, supporting both residents and visitors. Non-locals can provide a steady stream of new customers for businesses and, as a result, birth new jobs. Enhanced amenities to support tourism, such as parking and public toilets, can be used by residents as well. Furthermore, historic preservation needs can become apparent when towns plan for tourists, and money can be raised to maintain these sites. Local artisans and artists can also find larger audiences and customer bases. All in all, community pride can beam.
Jennifer Bell understands tourism from a professional and personal point of view. She “loves to travel… I can never travel enough.” She grew up in the longtime tourist magnet of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She chuckles recalling some early travel experiences, including dealing with cross-cultural communication (and miscommunication) in Uzbekistan. One of her favorite trips involved her family’s travel through 35 of the continental U.S. states. The four of them — including her husband, son, and daughter — prioritized state and national parks, hiking, and outdoor activities during their weeks of driving. Her son, a runner, made sure to run in each state, either alone or in an organized group. Her only regret is that her kids talked her out of visiting all the presidential libraries in favor of other activities.
Bell grew up curious, fascinated by problem-solving, and a voracious reader of both fiction and nonfiction. Bell’s father was an antique dealer, and she retains a deep love of history and old things in general. She understands Middleburg’s love of tradition, uniqueness, and its dependence on day-trippers and weekenders. In that spirit, she is already looking ahead to Middleburg’s Oktoberfest and other special town events. Even as she gears up for a busy fall and winter, her door in Middleburg’s Town Hall is open, and she welcomes those who would like to volunteer on community projects or just stop by to say “hi.” ML
Published in the August 2026 issue of Middleburg Life.