College of Social Work Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series to Feature Human Trafficking Expert

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 24, 2015) — As part of the University of Kentucky College of Social Work's Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series, Noël Bridget Busch-Armendariz, director of the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA) at the University of Texas at Austin, will be on campus discussing human trafficking in the United States on Feb. 27.

Busch-Armendariz will deliver her talk on current and key issues related to the trafficking of adults and children in the United States from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 27, in the President's Room at the Singletary Center for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public.

“Human trafficking is an ongoing and growing international and domestic phenomenon involving the enslavement, fraud and coercion of adults and children alike. It is a demoralizing and devastating violation of human rights for victims and survivors who have endured the abuses and cruelty involved in this ongoing global and domestic market," said Amanda West, assistant professor in the College of Social Work and a licensed clinical social worker. "Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that this area be discussed, and that we educate ourselves and our community on its impact on all levels."

The professor and associate dean of research at the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin has been working within the area of human trafficking for over a decade, and has more than 20 years of experience working to end interpersonal violence. She has authored a number of scholarly publications on the topic, currently writing a textbook on human trafficking, and recently received a $500,000 grant to map the trafficking of domestic minors in the state of Texas.

A licensed social worker and editor-in-chief of Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, Busch-Armendariz is regularly called as an expert witness in criminal, civil and immigration cases. She has also directed research totaling more than $5.3 million dollars in external funding for the National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, Office on Violence Against Women, Office of the Attorney General of Texas, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

“We are fortunate to have the prolific scholar Dr. Busch-Armendariz visit our campus.  I highly encourage the UK and Lexington community to attend and weigh in on this timely topic,” said Ike Adams, College of Social Work dean and Dorothy A. Miller Professor in Social Work Education.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Harder, 859-323-2396, whitney.harder@uky.edu