NEW: Chafee Appoints New Interim Head of DMV
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Governor Lincoln D. Chafee today announced his appointment of Carole A. Dwyer as Interim Administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Dwyer was most recently Warden of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections’ (RIDOC) Anthony P. Travisono Intake Service Center, and previously served as Warden of RIDOC’s Minimum Security and Women’s Divisions. She will replace the outgoing Lisa S. Holley, who agreed in March to serve as Interim Administrator for a brief period to turn around the once-troubled agency. Holley will return to her previous role as an attorney for the Department of Public Safety.
“Throughout her long career with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Carole has demonstrated outstanding leadership that has earned her the respect and admiration of all those who have worked with her,” Governor Chafee said. “She has maintained excellent relationships with correctional officers’ unions, and it is that same spirit of cooperation and partnership that will serve her well in her new role at the DMV. I am confident that Carole will be a change agent, just as Lisa Holley has been, continuing the dramatic improvements that have taken place since March.”
“I also want to extend my most sincere gratitude to Lisa for the remarkable work she has done to fix the DMV over the past six months,” Governor Chafee continued. “I always knew that her stay at the DMV would be temporary, but in her time there she truly has transformed the agency and made it a better place for the Rhode Islanders who depend on its services.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“I am honored that Governor Chafee has selected me to continue Lisa Holley’s excellent work in making the DMV a place of which Rhode Islanders can be proud,” Dwyer said. “The Governor is committed to ensuring the DMV delivers efficient, effective services to its customers in a courteous and respectful manner. I share that commitment and look forward to continuing to transform the DMV.”
Before Governor Chafee appointed Lisa Holley in March, it was not uncommon to wait for four to five hours – or more – for a basic transaction. Now, less than a year after the Governor pledged to “fix the DMV,” average wait times are under one hour, with the vast majority of transactions completed within half an hour. The agency has added staff in key areas and put more services online to maximize efficiency and effectiveness at its branches throughout the state. Additionally, DMV employees have undergone customer service training designed to ensure Rhode Islanders a positive, courteous, pleasant experience at the once-troubled agency. Reports from customers indicate that the training has had dramatic results.
Prior to becoming Warden of the RIDOC’s Intake Service Center, Minimum Security Division, and Women’s Division, Dwyer served as Deputy Warden of Medium Security II at the Donald Price Facility and of Medium Security at the John J. Moran Facility. She also previously served as a counselor with the Community Confinement program and as a Correctional Officer at the Intake Service Center, the Gloria McDonald & Dorothea Dix Women’s Division, and the Moran Medium Security Facility. A former part-time Adjunct Professor of graduate courses at Anna Maria College, Dwyer earned her Bachelor’s degree in the Administration of Criminal Justice (with Psychology minor) from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College.
