CU Boulder Provost Russ Moore today named Austin Jamar “JB” Banks to the post of acting vice chancellor for student affairs (VCSA), effective March 15. Banks succeeds Akirah Bradly-Armstrong, who announced in early January that she was leaving CU Boulder to accept the position of vice chancellor for student affairs and success at the University of California Santa Cruz.
Moore said Banks brings “more than two decades of leadership experience” in housing and residence life, student involvement and leadership, sorority and fraternity life, career development, health services, crisis management, athletic and general advising, and student conduct. Moore said he has asked Banks to work closely with Bradley-Armstrong for the final two weeks before her departure on April 2 “to ensure a smooth transition of leadership for the division.”
“As acting vice chancellor for student affairs, JB will provide effective and seamless leadership of the student affairs division, and continue our tradition of strong and consistent student engagement as the campus searches for a permanent leader in the post. I welcome him to my leadership team in this vital interim role,” said Moore.
Moore said he has appointed Dean and Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education Daryl Maeda to chair a search advisory committee for the permanent vice chancellor, with a goal of naming a new vice chancellor for student affairs by early fall and having that person on campus as soon as possible. Those interested in volunteering for or nominating someone for the search committee can do so here by March 18.
Banks currently serves as associate vice chancellor and dean of students, where he oversees belonging and engagement. Prior to joining CU Boulder, Banks served as an associate vice chancellor and dean of students for student affairs at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). In addition to his work at Winston-Salem State University, Banks has also served in various roles at Appalachian State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which included initiatives promoting student belonging, mattering and retention.
Banks earned a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication and criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a Master of Science in educational leadership with a specialization in leadership and multicultural student development and retention from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a certification in leadership from Harvard University.
