Muriel Malone Nolen is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC). Since her appointment to Executive Director in July 2022, she has led the commission in its mission to safeguard individuals from discrimination through education and enforcement. As Executive Director, she oversees the agency’s operations which include enforcement and administration, policy and procedure development, case management, mediation, litigation, budget, human resources, education, and community outreach.  She is also responsible for the supervision, training, and development of staff members.

Director Nolen joined THRC in April 2021 as Deputy Director and was appointed as the agency’s Interim Executive Director in February 2022.  Prior to joining THRC, she served for nearly two decades as an Assistant District Attorney in Shelby County.  Director Nolen is a trial lawyer by trade and has tried over one hundred jury trials that include several high-profile criminal cases. She has held various other government and non-profit positions throughout Tennessee, including posts with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, the Hamilton County District Attorney General’s Office, Memphis Area Legal Services, and Southwest Tennessee Community College. 

Director Nolen has dedicated her career and talents to protecting the civil rights and liberties of Tennesseans through the spirit of advocacy, enforcement, and education.  She currently serves on the Board of Crime Stoppers of Memphis and Shelby County, and she has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association and the National Black Prosecutors Association.  She holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis.  She is a Rule 31 Civil Mediator and a college instructor.  In addition to instructing law enforcement officers around the nation, Director Nolen has also had the chance to instruct judges and attorneys in West Africa as part of the Attorney General Alliance-Africa Program.