NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today named Dr. Shari Meghreblian as commissioner of the Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) effective May 1. Meghreblian has served as deputy commissioner for the department since 2011, overseeing TDEC’s environmental regulatory programs.
“Shari has been instrumental in the success of various environmental programs during her time at TDEC, including ensuring statewide compliance with federal air quality standards for particle pollution and ozone for the first time in over two decades.” Haslam said. “She is extremely knowledgeable and I look forward to having her lead the TDEC team.”
“I am truly humbled and honored to serve Tennesseans in this new role,” Meghreblian said. “I want to thank Governor Haslam for this opportunity and I look forward to continuing the positive momentum we have achieved over the past seven years.”
Meghreblian has recently helped connect leaders from federal, state and local governments, industry, academia, environmental advocacy groups and public utilities as they work to develop a statewide plan addressing future water availability in Tennessee. The plan, TN H2O, will include an assessment of current water resources and recommendations to help ensure Tennessee has an abundance of water resources to support future economic growth.
A Kentucky native with roots in family farming, Meghreblian has been active in environmental and business advocacy across Tennessee for more than two decades. She was appointed by Gov. Haslam in 2015 to serve on Tennessee’s Rural Development Task Force. In 2013, she was appointed by the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) to serve as the chair of its Federal Facilities Forum. She is also a board member of the West Tennessee River Basin Authority.
Meghreblian has more than 20 years of combined experience in private sector manufacturing and environmental management systems. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Management and a master’s degree in Engineering from Vanderbilt University, and a bachelor of science in Marketing/Economics from Western Kentucky University.
