Linda Banks-Santilli
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Linda Banks-Santilli is associate dean for academic affairs and clinical associate professor in the Higher Education Administration program of the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies department at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. She oversees BU Wheelock’s academic programs and is committed to helping students achieve their educational goals.
At BU Wheelock, Dr. Banks-Santilli oversees the Data & Enrollment Management Office (DEMO), as well as the Professional Preparation Office, which supports students’ experiential learning. She serves ex officio on the Academic Affairs Committee and the Academic Review Committee. Dr. Banks-Santilli collaborates with the assistant dean for academic affairs, the associate dean for student affairs, the director of the undergraduate program, the director of doctoral studies, department chairs, associate deans, and staff. She also serves on the dean’s cabinet and is responsible for helping to enact the college’s strategic plan. She represents BU Wheelock’s interests at the University’s undergraduate and graduate councils and participates in University assessment initiatives.
Dr. Banks-Santilli was a faculty member and the dean of education & human development at Wheelock College, prior to the merger with Boston University. In that role, she worked closely with the dean of arts & sciences and the director of international programs. She represented Wheelock College at the Colleges of the Fenway, served as a liaison to the faculty senate, and chaired the committee for promotion and tenure.
As a former first-generation college student, Dr. Banks-Santilli is interested in helping other first-generation students achieve their dreams through higher education. Her interests include diversity in higher education, particularly as it relates to women and people of color, and helping students develop the skills, strategy, and thought leadership needed to transform today’s higher education institutions. A former Golden Apple Award teacher from the Boston Public Schools, Dr. Banks-Santilli is eager to help shape the next generation of higher education professionals.
Pronouns: she/her
Recent News
Education
EdD, Harvard University
MA, Lesley College
BS, Wheelock College
Selected Publications
Banks-Santilli, L. & Adelabu, D. (April 20, 2018). Four essential components of a first-generation college student success program. Academic Impressions Webinar. www.academicimpressions.com.
Banks-Santilli, L. (August 17, 2015). What does it take to become an elementary school teacher? Not just passion. www.theconversation.com.
Banks-Santilli, L. (June 3, 2015). Guilt is one of the biggest struggles first-generation college students face. The Washington Post.
Banks-Santilli, L. (June 2, 2015). Feet on campus, heart at home: first-generation college students struggle with divided identities. www.theconversation.com.
Banks-Santilli, L. (February/2014). First-Generation College Students and Their Pursuit of the American Dream. Journal of Case Studies in Education.
Banks-Santilli, L. & Villegas-Reimers, E. (2013). First-Generation Students and Their Struggle to Succeed. Profiles in Diversity Journal.
McKibbens, D., Shainker, S., & Banks-Santilli, L. (2008). Wheelock College: Focus Child Assessment Project. In (Eds.) Wise, A., Ehrenberg, P., & Leibbrand, J. It's All about Student Learning: Assessing Teacher Candidates' Ability to Impact P-12 Students, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, 203-212.
Banks-Santilli, L. & de Almeida, J. (2007). Brazil. Greenwood Encyclopedia of Children's Issues Worldwide, Greenwood Press.
Alkins, K., Banks-Santilli, L., Elliott, P., Guttenberg, N. & Kamii, M. (2006) Project QUEST: A Journey of Discovery with Beginning Teachers in Urban Schools. Equity & Excellence in Education, 39 (1), 65-80.
Banks-Santilli, L. (2003) "Understanding the School Experiences of Six Learning Adaptive Behavior Students in a Boston Public Middle School." Harvard Graduate School of Education (Doctoral Dissertation).
Selected Presentations
Hawaii International Conference on Education, Co-Presented Session on “Teaching & and Learning Practices to Affirm and Sustain a Positive Ethnic Identity Among Underrepresented Students of Color,” January 4, 2023.
Hawaii International Conference on Education, Co-Presented Session on “First-Generation Student Success” January 4-7, 2020.
Princeton University 1 Ivy First-Generation Conference, “Guilt: Soaring Past the Hidden Inhibitor of First-Generation Low-Income Success,” Invited Speaker, February 16, 2019.
Academic Impressions Webcast, Co-Delivered Webcast titled, “4 Essential Components of a First-Generation College Student Success Program,” April 20, 2018.