Summer Programs For High School StudentsNew York City

Banks is a specialist in 20th-century American political and labor history. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the struggle over affirmative action in the New York City building and construction trades during the 1960's and 1970's. She has taught courses at the New School, Columbia University, and Barnard College and is currently the chair of the history department at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School.

She received her B.A. in history and religious studies from New York University, her M.A. in political science from the New School for Social Research and her Ph. D. in American history from Columbia University.