Chief Executive Officer
Marlene Sallo serves as Chief Executive Officer of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) and Client Assistance Program (CAP) agencies that protect and advance the rights of people with disabilities across the United States and its territories.
A nationally recognized civil rights and disability rights leader, Sallo brings more than two decades of experience spanning executive leadership, federal service, legal advocacy, and public policy. Before joining NDRN, she served as Executive Director of the Disability Law Center, Massachusetts’ designated Protection and Advocacy agency, and as Director of Preventing Targeted Violence at the McCain Institute for International Leadership.
Her distinguished federal service includes a presidential appointment by President Barack Obama as Staff Director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, where she directed investigations, public hearings, and policy reports on some of the nation’s most significant civil rights issues. She also held senior leadership positions as Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service and as Deputy Chief of Engagement for the U.S. Countering Violent Extremism Task Force, helping advance national efforts to strengthen community trust, address conflict, and foster collaboration among federal, state, and local partners.
Earlier in her career, Sallo practiced civil rights, disability rights, education, and child welfare law, representing vulnerable populations and advancing justice through legal advocacy, training, and public service. Her experience across the nonprofit, legal, and federal sectors has made her a respected leader in protecting civil rights and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities.
As CEO, Sallo is focused on strengthening the Protection and Advocacy network, advancing disability rights, and ensuring that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community life. Her leadership reflects a steadfast commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of civil and human rights.
Sallo earned a Bachelor of Arts from Manhattanville College and a Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law.
