Former Shelby County assistant AG named executive director of TN Human Rights Commission
A former Assistant District Attorney General in Shelby County, Muriel Malone Nolen, has been named Executive Director of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, effective July 18, 2022.
THRC is an independent state agency created in 1963 that is in charge of enforcing the state's anti-discrimination laws by investigating complaints of discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation based on race, nationality, religion, sex, disability, familial status and age.
Nolen joined THRC in April 2021 as the agency’s Deputy Director and later took on the responsibilities as the Interim Executive Director in February 2022. A trial lawyer by trade, Nolen has worked for various Tennessee governmental and non-profit agencies, including the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, Memphis Area Legal Services, Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office and Southwest Tennessee Community College.
“The Board determined that our next leader had to be someone who could implement change in our culture while moving the agency toward efficiencies in processes and sensitivities toward those we serve," Robin Derryberry, the Chair of the Commission, said in a news release. "The Board also wanted someone who could build a team that will set a strong course for the future. We were fortunate to have Muriel step in at a critical time as our Interim Director last winter. As we reviewed over 35 candidates for the position, it became obvious that the agency’s future would be in great hands with Muriel Malone Nolen leading our team. We’re grateful to have her in this key position."
Nolen received her Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis. She currently serves on the Board of Crime Stoppers of Memphis and Shelby County and the Executive Board of Ben F. Jones-National Bar Association and is the immediate past Regional Director of The National Black Prosecutors Association.
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Gina Butkovich covers DeSoto County, storytelling and general news. She can be reached at 901-232-6714 or on Twitter @gigibutko.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Former Shelby County assistant AG named executive director of THRC
