Gov. Tony Evers today announced that Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson will leave the Evers Administration, effective Sept. 11, to take a position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Evers is appointing Kristina Boardman to serve as WisDOT secretary.
Boardman is currently the deputy secretary of WisDOT and was the first woman to serve in that role at the department.
“For nearly 20 years, Kristina has been a key part of the WisDOT team, and her proven leadership and experience at the department, both as deputy secretary and during her time leading the DMV, have positioned her well to be an exceptional secretary,” said Evers. “I look forward to the vision and insight she will bring as a member of my cabinet and trust that her transition into the role will be seamless.”
Prior to her role as deputy secretary, Boardman previously served as administrator of WisDOT’s Division of Motor Vehicles, and under her leadership. Key accomplishments of her time as DMV administrator include innovating an award-winning online service for customers to title and register their vehicles, implementing the federal REAL ID program in Wisconsin, and expanding opportunities to schedule appointments at DMV service centers. Boardman also served as chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators International Board of Directors for the 2022-23 federal fiscal year.
“I have had the pleasure of working with and learning from Secretary Thompson and know I have important shoes to fill,” said Boardman. “We have made some incredible progress these last several years to build transportation systems the people of Wisconsin can rely on, and I am excited to continue building upon that momentum as secretary at the department.”
Boardman received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and has nearly three decades of state government service, including 10 years as a legislative aide for the Wisconsin State Assembly, before transitioning to WisDOT in 2005. Prior to becoming DMV administrator, Kristina served as DMV deputy administrator and director of DMV field services.
