Lisa Downing Murley is a native of Mississippi and was raised and educated in Kentucky. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Elementary Education and a Rank I Certification in Instructional Supervision from Western Kentucky University. She is currently completing a doctoral degree in education through a cooperative program between the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University. Prior to teaching at Western, Ms. Murley was a Core Curriculum Consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education, an Elementary Curriculum Coordinator in the Warren County Public Schools, and an elementary classroom teacher in the Monroe County Public Schools and in the Warren County Public Schools.

Ms. Murley is an instructor in the Elementary Education Block I program which includes a partnership between the university and elementary schools. She also teaches Introduction to Education courses and the Seminar for Student Teaching. She enjoys working with students as they progress through the education program at WKU. Her goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of her students. She is married to Tim Murley and they have two children, Brady and Joe. She enjoys reading, writing, teaching children, boating, and spending time with her family. She likes to learn new ways to use technology and also enjoys collecting modern art.