Social & Behavioral Sciences and Education

Katherine Banks

Dean for Social & Behavioral Sciences and Education

I strive to engage, challenge and to spark intellectual curiosity in my students. My ultimate goal is that all students feel empowered to take the knowledge they learn in my classroom and apply it in the broader world. Students face complex social, political, economic, cultural and moral issues of a global society that don’t necessarily respect the traditional boundaries of academic disciplines. To this end, I encourage students to supplement their classroom education by attending city council meetings, participating in protests, writing community officials and organizing community events.

I believe respecting a diverse range of informed opinions—coupled with the empowerment that comes from civic literacy—provides a brave space for students to think critically about the world around them and to engage with it in new and exciting ways.

M.B.A., Western Governors University
M.A., University of Washington

Exceptional Faculty Award, CBC (2023)

Affordable Learning Grant, WSU Office of the Provost (2019)

Excellence in Teaching by an Instructor Award, WSU College of Arts and Sciences (2019)

WSU President’s Leadership and Engagement Award of Distinction (2019)

Richard G. Law Excellence Award for Undergraduate Teaching, WSU (2018)

Washington State University Tri-Cities Woman of Distinction Award (2017)

LIFT Faculty Fellowship, WSU Center for Transformative Learning & Leadership (2017)

AVID for Higher Education (AHE) Faculty Fellowship, WSU Tri-Cities (2016)

University of Washington European Union Center of Excellence Graduate Research Grant (2013)

Scan|Design Summer Travel/Study Scholarship (2013)

Peter J. May Graduate Research Grant in Political Science (2013)