WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg City Council on Wednesday appointed Michele Mixner DeWitt as city manager, making her the first woman to hold the role in the city’s history.
DeWitt, who has served as interim city manager since Feb. 25, was appointed during a special-called council meeting. She is the city’s ninth city manager.
DeWitt stepped into the interim role on Feb. 25 after the council accepted the resignation of City Manager Andrew O. Trivette during a quickly called meeting. The city offered no details about Trivette’s departure, calling it a personnel matter. Trivette joined the city in 2016 as assistant city manager and was named city manager in 2018.
“Michele has demonstrated exceptional leadership not only during her time as interim city manager, but throughout her 20 years of dedicated service in a variety of roles within our city organization,” Mayor Douglas G. Pons said in a statement.
DeWitt joined the City of Williamsburg in 2005 as its first economic development director, where she expanded the department’s services to the business community and oversaw the $5 million City Tourism Development Fund. She was promoted to assistant city manager in 2021 and to deputy city manager in December 2025. She also served as interim commissioner of the revenue in 2025.
Pons said the council saw no need to conduct a broader search given DeWitt’s track record and community standing.
DeWitt brings three decades of public-sector experience to the role. A Virginia Beach native, she holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia School of Architecture and a master’s in public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Her career has been marked by a series of firsts — she also served as the first environmental planner for Middlesex County and the first economic development director for West Point. She holds certifications from the American Institute of Certified Planners, the International Economic Development Council and GrowAmerica, and is a past president of the Virginia Economic Developers Association.
“This community holds a singular place in history, and my commitment is to carry the torch from the public servants before me and pass it securely to those who follow,” DeWitt said. “The city’s dedicated staff and I will emphasize customer service and a generous public dialogue as we steward Williamsburg’s legacy into the future.”
