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Professor James A. Banks to Present 14th Annual Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture

University of Washington Professor James A. Banks, known widely as “the father of multicultural education,” will present the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity’s (OMA&D) 14th annual Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture, Fri., April 13, in Kane Hall Room 220.

Banks is the Kerry and Linda Killinger Endowed Chair in Diversity Studies and founding director of the Center for Multicultural Education in the UW College of Education.

James A. Banks
James A. Banks

His lecture, “Civic Education for Excellence, Diversity, and Inclusion: Global Perspectives,” will describe ways in which schools, colleges and universities can implement reforms that will help students from diverse groups acquire the knowledge, skills and values needed to attain structural inclusion into their nation-state and become effective and transformative citizens.

This year’s lecture is featured among OMA&D’s 50th anniversary activities that are recognizing its legacy of excellence, diversity and inclusion.

“Our office wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the students, faculty and staff who led the movement for diversity, equity and inclusion on our campus in 1968 and beyond,” said Vice President for Minority Affairs & Diversity and Chief Diversity Officer Rickey Hall. “The same can be said for the state of multicultural education and the groundbreaking efforts of Professor Banks who has paved the way in this field. We are incredibly proud to shine a light on his commitment to social justice in what is an especially important milestone year for the university.”

The event is free and open to the public, however advance registration is requested. The lecture is held in conjunction with UW’s Parent and Family Weekend.

Banks’ research focuses on multicultural education, and diversity and citizenship education in a global context. He is the author of numerous books and his research on how educational institutions can improve race and ethnic relations has greatly influenced schools, colleges and universities throughout the United States and the world. He has given lectures on citizenship education and diversity in many different nations including Australia, China, Cyprus, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Turkey and New Zealand. Banks’ books have been translated into Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Turkish and Arabic.

Banks is the past president of the National Council for the Social Studies and of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), an AERA fellow and a member of the National Academy of Education.

Inaugurated in 2005, this lecture series honors the late Dr. Kelly, UW’s first vice president for OMA&D. It is dedicated to acknowledging the work of distinguished faculty by spotlighting research focused on diversity and social justice.