Christine Lynn Norton, Ph.D., LCSW
Associate Professor of Social Work
Founder, FACES
​Texas State University

Christine Lynn Norton, Ph.D., LCSW, is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Texas State University. Dr. Norton helped found the FACES (Foster Care Alumni Creating Educational Success) initiative at Texas State University. She is the Foster Care Advisory Council Chair, the Faculty Advisor for the FACES Student Organization and was recently named the Foster Care Liaison Officer to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Along with developing and co-leading the FACES initiative, Dr. Norton has conducted peer reviewed research on foster care alumni in higher education and is also a lead researcher in adolescent and young adult mental health, with a focus on outdoor behavioral healthcare. She has presented nationally and internationally on her research in this area, and is a proponent of making therapeutic outdoor adventure experiences accessible to youth in foster care and foster care alumni in higher education. Dr. Norton utilizes a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach in both direct practice and program development with former foster youth. Dr. Norton has been on the Education Reach for Texans Advisory Board since its inception, and has presented on her work with FACES at numerous Reach Convenings. Dr. Norton earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas, an M.S. in Experiential Education from Minnesota State-Mankato, an M.A. in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Clinical Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.