Noel O'Neill

Noel joined the Kansas Federal Public Defender in 2022 as the office’s first mitigation specialist. She received a bachelor of arts in crime and delinquency studies from Emporia State University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Noel started her career with Wyandot Center, a community mental-health center in Kansas City, Kansas. She first worked as an intensive case manager before transitioning to a liaison position where she assisted individuals on felony probation by connecting them with mental health services. Before joining the office, Noel completed a year-long internship at Center for Behavioral Medicine, the state forensic hospital in Missouri.

Noel is certified in Seeking Safety, an evidence-based treatment curriculum for PTSD and substance use. She is trained in Mental Health First Aid and has previously taught Wellness Self-Management to individuals with co-occurring disorders.

When she is not at work, Noel is hanging out with her two dogs, Sunny and Louie, spending time with family, or traveling.