Linda Banks-Santilli
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Linda Banks-Santilli is associate dean for academic affairs and clinical associate professor of special education at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. She oversees the operations of the Data & Enrollment Management (DEMO) and Professional Preparation offices. She also serves as ex-officio on the Academic Affairs Committee, a committee that reviews and approves curriculum, and the Academic Review Committee, a committee responsible for monitoring students’ successful time to degree completion.
Dr. Banks-Santilli collaborates with the associate dean for student affairs, the director of the undergraduate program, the director of doctoral programs, the assistant dean for academic affairs, department chairs, other associate deans, and a number of instrumental staff members. She represents BU Wheelock’s interests at the University’s undergraduate and graduate councils. She also serves on the Cabinet and is, along with her colleagues, responsible for helping to enact the College’s strategic plan.
Dr. Banks-Santilli was a faculty member and served as dean of education & human development at Wheelock College prior to the merger with Boston University. As a former Boston Public School teacher, Dr. Banks-Santilli worked primarily with children and adolescents with emotional and behavior disorders. Her dissertation was focused on the quality of their educational experiences. Since that time, Dr. Banks-Santilli has published on topics associated with teacher preparation and first-generation college student success.
Pronouns: she/her
Recent News
Education
EdD, Harvard University
MA, Lesley College
BS, Wheelock College
Courses
Introduction to Special Education
Field Experiences in Special Education
Moderate & Severe Disabilities
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.