For more than 30 years, Noёl has worked collaboratively with others who believe that everyone deserves to live peaceful and prosperous lives. Embracing her Irish roots, Noёl aspires to be a storyteller. She is the University Presidential Professor at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work and Professor at the Dell Medical School, Department of Health Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin.
Noël teaches graduate courses in human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and restorative practices. Noël is the founding and current director of the UT Austin Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA), a collaboration of the Schools of Social Work, Nursing, Law, and the Bureau for Business. The National Science Foundation (NFS), the National Institute of Justice, the Office for Victims of Crime, the Office on Violence Against Women, and many other foundations and entities have funded her research. To inform the criminal legal system of the complexities of the dynamics of interpersonal violence, Noёl has provided expert testimony in over 100 criminal, civil, and immigration cases. She is well-published and has been recognized by her colleagues and students for her contributions.
Noël is a returned Peace Corps volunteer and a licensed social worker. She is happily married, and of all roles in life, she has learned the most about love, vulnerability, and commitment by being a momma. Noёl is an amateur gardener and enjoys yoga, making papel picado, watching documentaries, and connecting to nature. Noёl is a survivor of sexual assault.
Professional Interests
Violence against women and children; social and public policy; social justice; international social work education, training and practice; and adoption and child welfare issues.
Posts
Research
- The Texas Stalking Project (2024)
- Enhancing the Public Health Response to Domestic Violence in the Context of COVID-19 (2023)
- Full Court Press Regional Training: Building capacity for expert witness in domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Texas court Systems (2021)
- Bystander intervention at The University of Texas System academic campuses (2021)
- Cultivating Learning and Safe Environments (CLASE) (2020)
- City of Austin - National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (2020)
- Snapshot: A closer look at sexual assault case characteristics in Texas (2020)
- Compendium of Resources on Sexual Assault (CORSA II) (2020)
- Rutgers Violence Against Women Consortium (2019)
- Sexual assault forensic services initiative: Eloise House program evaluation (2018)
- Statewide Human Trafficking Mapping Project for Texas (2018)
- Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault (LASSA) network evaluation (2018)
- 2018 Full Court Press Regional Training: Building capacity for expert witness in domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Texas court systems (2018)
- Compendium of Resources for Sexual Assault (CORSA) (2018)
- Project ReVEAL: Recording victims video statements as evidence to advance outcomes in family violence cases (2018)
- The development of an evidence-based curriculum on victim-centered notification (2017)
- The Human Trafficking Practice and Research Fellows Project (2017)
- A blueprint for university police in Texas: Responding to sexual assault crimes (2016)
- RST Survivors of Trafficking Empowerment Program (STEP) (2016)
- 2016 Full Court Press 4.0 Advanced Training: Building capacity for expert witness trainers (2016)
- Health and well-being: Statewide sexual assault prevalence study (2016)
- Strategic approaches to sexual assault kit evidence: Action research (2015)
- Criminal Justice Division 2014 Full Court Press Advance Training: Building capacity for expert witness trainers (2015)
- Assessing the needs of Congolese women (2014)
- 2014 Full Court Press 2.0: Providing training and responses to domestic violence and sexual assault (2014)
- Full Court Press: Providing expert witness training and technical assistance on domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking (2013)
- Developing a toolkit for law enforcement to address sexual assault (2013)
- Full Court Press (Texas): Improving the knowledge about and responses to domestic violence and sexual assault in Texas (2012)
- Texas State plan for domestic violence services (2012)
- Non Report Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (NRSAFE) Program (2011)
- Statewide Domestic Violence Prevalence Study (2011)
- Evaluation of sexual assault services in Texas (2011)
- El Paso Domestic Violence Project: Evaluation (2011)
- Creating an evidence-based program to build resiliency in child abuse staff and volunteers (2011)
- Human Trafficking Coalition Project Evaluation: Phase II (2009)
- Evaluation of the Needs of Human Trafficking Victims in Texas (2008)
- Teen Dating Violence (2008)
- Greenleaf Project (2007)
- Human Trafficking Coalition - project evaluation (2007)
- Evaluation of the BabySafe Program (2006)
- Dating Violence prevention project (2005)
- Employability for refugee families in Central Texas (2005)
- Substance use among partner-abuse survivors residing in domestic violence shelters (2005)
- Defining and assessing spirituality for women coping with partner abuse (2004)
- Healthy Marriage initiatives for refugee families (2004)
- Development of outcome measures for sexual assault organizations in Texas (2003)
- Evaluation of the BabySafe program for pregnant battered women (2003)
- Adolescent mothers speak out about their lives and relationships (2003)
- Health Survey of Texans: A Focus on Sexual Assault Experiences (2003)