Governor appoints Noble to Board of Social Worker Examiners

Date of release: 12/02/05

SAN MARCOS – Dorinda N. Noble, director of the School of Social Work at Texas State University-San Marcos, has been appointed to a 6-year term on the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners by Texas Governor Rick Perry. 

The board, a nine-member state agency appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate, is charged with regulating the profession of social work in Texas and has rule-making authority. 

“Serving on this board is not only an honor, but it carries great responsibility to ensure that the public is well-served by social workers across the state,” Noble said.  “My appointment also means that Texas State School of Social Work is at the table as a major player to help shape the future of our profession in Texas.”

Noble has significant experience in professional licensure and regulation, having served as Chair of the Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners from 1998-2001.  During her tenure on that board, Noble oversaw all rule-making to implement a new licensing law in Louisiana, and she was Hearing Officer at over 40 disciplinary hearings of professionals accused of misconduct or violations of the licensing law.


Noble holds degrees from Texas Tech University (B.A.), Tulane University (MSW), and University of Texas-Austin (Ph.D.).  She joined the faculty of Texas State in 2001, coming from Louisiana State University.   In her role as director of the Texas State School of Social Work, Noble oversees 15 faculty members, 100 undergraduate students, and 120 MSW students. Her practice background is in child welfare, and she is an expert in professional ethics and in professional supervision.  For several years, Noble has been very active in the Association of Social Work Boards, the international body which produces the licensing tests for the profession of social work.

The Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners licenses and has regulatory authority over more than 20,000 Texas social workers.  All social workers in the state, by law, must be licensed and fall under the legislation that regulates the practice of social work in Texas.  All states in the union, as well as numerous foreign countries, regulate the practice of social work.