Noël Busch-Armendariz

University Presidential Professor & Director of Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault | University of Texas at Austin

Noël Bridget Busch-Armendariz, PhD LMSW, MPA, is the University Presidential Professor, Steve Hicks School of Social Work and the Director of the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA) at The University of Texas at Austin. Busch-Armendariz is a nationally recognized expert in sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic violence. She teaches courses on these topics and restorative practices. Since joining UT Austin in 2000, Busch-Armendariz has served as the principal investigator of 90 externally funded research and training projects funded by a variety of U.S. federal and state agencies such as the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Justice, the National Institute of Justice, the U.S. Office of Victims of Crimes, the U.S. Office of Violence and Women, the Texas Office of the Attorney General, the Governor of Texas, and many foundations and local organizations. As IDVSA's director, Busch strives to put her research findings into the hands of game changers, which led her to be called to contribute to the Obama-Biden White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault and Misconduct. Busch-Armendariz led one of the nation's most comprehensive and methodologically innovative studies. Her research institute co-developed The Blueprint with The University of Texas System Police, a trauma-informed guide for police about campus sexual assault. The then Department of Defense Secretary Ash Carter requested a visit with Busch-Armendariz to learn how to incorporate research findings and recommendations into policies regarding sexual assault in the military. Busch subsequently participated in working meetings at the Pentagon to inform the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff on global workplace harassment and the Coast Guard Investigative Services on sexual assault.

Busch-Armendariz has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, editorials, and scientific research reports. She is the first author of the first textbook in the United States on human trafficking, Human Trafficking: Applied Research, Theory, and Case Studies (2018), awarded the prestigious Hamilton Book Award. A second edition will publish by Cognella, Inc. in 2023.

Busch-Armendariz has worked as a support group facilitator, program director, registered lobbyist, interim executive director of a statewide coalition, and parole officer. In addition to her work in the area of interpersonal violence, Busch-Armendariz began working with refugees and immigrants in 1986 as an immigrant assistant and served for seven years as the principal investigator for a program that provided intensive health and mental health services to refugees, victims of trafficking, asylees, and other immigrants in Central Texas. Over the past 35 years, she has lived, taught, or consulted in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, Albania, South Korea, Dubai, Mexico, and Scotland, and has traveled extensively worldwide. Busch-Armendariz is a licensed social worker and a returned Peace Corps volunteer.

She is deeply committed to her communities. She has been appointed to boards, task forces, and volunteers with community organizations. She has also served as an expert witness in approximately 100 immigration, criminal, civil, and military cases involving interpersonal violence, always providing her services pro bono when needed. Today, she commits much of her time to the UT Austin Restore Uvalde team to restoratively understand and respond to the complex harms, needs, and obligations of the Uvalde community created after the May 24, 2022, massacre at Robb Elementary.

Her students and colleagues have recognized Noёl's superb teaching and commitment as a cherished mentor with many honors. Dr. Busch was recognized for leading Texas to national prominence in understanding and addressing human trafficking with her keen scientific skills and tenacious quest for innovative problem-solving. Larry and Daniel Armendariz are the loves of her life! Nola, the family's French Bulldog, and Bear, her son's Newfoundland, are the source of silliness, laughter, and joy.