Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs
2022 NASPA Pillar of the Profession
In March 2022, Dr. Willie L. Banks, Jr. was recognized as a Pillar of the Profession at the 2022 NASPA National Conference. Each year, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Foundation recognizes exceptional members of the student affairs and higher education community through the Pillars of the Profession award, one of the Foundation’s highest honors. We want to recognize Dr. Banks for this incredible achievement.
Willie L. Banks Jr., Ph.D.
Biography
Willie L. Banks, Jr., Ph.D. currently serves as the Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs at the University of California, Irvine, a position he has held since July 15, 2019. In his position, Dr. Banks is charged with providing oversight and direction to the Division of Student Affairs, which is comprised of clusters addressing the whole development of UCI students. These clusters include Auxiliary Services, Student Life & Leadership, and Wellness, Health & Counseling Services. The division employs over 800 fulltime staff and 1,000 student employees. The division is dedicated to transforming the lives of the more than 35,000 students attending UCI.
Dr. Banks previously served as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Indiana State University from 2015 to 2019. Dr. Banks also held an appointment as an Assistant Professor within the Bayh College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership in the Student Affairs and Higher Education program. Dr. Banks served as the chief student affairs officer and reported directly to the president of the university. Under Dr. Banks’ leadership the Division of Student Affairs at Indiana State provided programs and services that supported the co-curricular involvement of over 13,500 students. As part of his responsibilities, Dr. Banks was charged with providing oversight for the Charles E. Brown African American Cultural Center, Office of the Dean of Students, Student Counseling Center, Student Activities and Organizations, Hulman Memorial Student Union, Campus Recreation, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Conduct and Integrity, Residential Life, Dining Services, and Multicultural Services and Programs.
Prior to joining Indiana State University, Dr. Banks worked for Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio for three and a half years in a variety of positions, including Associate Dean of Students, Interim Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, and Interim Vice President for Student Affairs.
Before CSU, Dr. Banks worked at the University of Georgia for over 18 years in a variety of positions within the Division of Student Affairs including Director of the Tate Student Center and Campus Life, and Associate Dean of Students for Intercultural Affairs.
During his time at the University of Georgia, Dr. Banks held graduate faculty status with the College of Education and served as an instructor for a number of courses within the College Student Affairs Administration (CSAA) program, including College Student Ecology, Issues in Student Affairs Administration, and College Student Affairs Interventions.
Professionally, Dr. Banks is involved with American College Personnel Association (ACPA), Association of College Unions International (ACUI), Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), and Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) National Honor Society. Dr. Banks currently serves on the Board of Trustees for ODK. Dr. Banks previously served on the Board of Directors for the Association of College Unions International, the United Way of the Wabash Valley, and was member of the Terre Haute Rotary Club.
Dr. Banks received his undergraduate degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and his Master’s and Ph.D. in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.