The Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) has recently bolstered its leadership roster with the appointment of Diona E. Layden as Deputy Director. Layden, whose appointment took effect on September 16, is tasked with a crucial role in overseeing the state agency's operations, which include responsibilities ranging from policy implementation to staff management, as well as leading the mediation, intake, and investigative processes, according to an announcement by the THRC.
Layden is familiar to positions of leadership within the state government, having accumulated over 15 years of experience in various capacities, her career includes tenure as Deputy General Counsel and Deputy Director at the Tennessee Department of Health, also her spell as a Hearing Officer for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, before her move to Fisk University as a Special Collections Librarian. Speaking about the appointment, THRC Executive Director Muriel Malone Nolen expressed confidence in Layden's professional background, saying, "Her professional experience will make her a valuable addition to the Commission. I look forward to having her join the team," which was reported by the Commission.
The THRC's legal division has also seen new appointments with William Wade stepping in as General Counsel on July 14, and Christopher Cowart taking on the role of Associate General Counsel effective September 1; Wade offers historical insight into the Commission's workings having served previously as Assistant Attorney and Associate General Counsel, and Cowart brings in significant legal experience from his prior roles as General Counsel for the Knoxville Leadership Foundation and Assistant District Attorney.
The commission, which is the principal enforcement body of civil rights laws in Tennessee, has a mission statement that emphasizes the prevention of discrimination through education and enforcement as their mission is "safeguarding individuals from discrimination through education and enforcement," the commission's mandate covers various grounds, including race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, familial status, and retaliation in sectors of employment, housing, and public accommodations, this broad mandate underscores the importance the state places on civil rights and the weighty responsibility of its newly appointed leaders.
