Governor appoints Rehder to Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers

Dr. Kylene Rehder

Northwestern Oklahoma State University Department of Social Work chair Dr. Kylene Rehder has been appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin to serve a five year term on the State Board of Licensed Social Workers. The governor’s appointment of Rehder was confirmed by the Senate in May.

The Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers (OSBLSW) is a seven-member board charged with safeguarding the welfare of the public of the State of Oklahoma by establishing, promoting and enforcing high standards of practice for licensed social workers. OSBLSW’s vision is to have strong public awareness of social work practices within the state, maintain high standards that reflect best practice in the profession of social work, and to ensure that qualified professionals are available to the citizens of Oklahoma.

“Dr. Rehder brings a tremendous skill set to the Board of Directors,” James Marks, executive director of the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers, said. “Her academic background and her knowledge of the social work profession in Oklahoma will truly serve in the best interest of the public as we strive to strengthen our profession.”

Rehder holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Northcentral University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Social Work from Northwestern. She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers and specializes in child abuse and neglect, disaster mental health and technology in social work education and practice. She is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and a member of the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC) where she serves as a disaster mental health responder. She currently serves as a board member on Child Welfare Professional Enhancement Program (CWPEP) that works to strengthen child welfare services in Oklahoma, and a board member of Freedom West Community Development Corporation, a non-profit development entity in northwest Oklahoma that works to revitalize rural communities.

Rehder is the Jake and Jayne Lindsay Endowed Chair in Social Work and was named the John Barton Distinguished Teaching and Service Award recipient in 2013.

To learn more about Northwestern’s Department of Social Work, contact Rehder at (580) 327-8135 or kdrehder@nwosu.edu.

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