Dwayne PattersonDirector, North Carolina State Parks

Director of the Division of State Parks and Recreation Dwayne Patterson brings extensive leadership experience in the operational realm to DNCR. Immediately prior to joining our staff he was executive director for CREST, a regional non-profit agency that serves intellectually and developmentally disabled adults. Dwayne Patterson understands the important role that parks and trails play in improving health and quality of life, and will work to expand access to parks throughout North Carolina, especially among children.

Other significant positions held by Patterson include chief financial officer of DNCR, chief deputy secretary for the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, chief financial officer for the Warren and Durham county public school systems, and director of operations for the Museum of Life and Science in Durham.

He was raised in Kinston and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting from N.C. State University.