Vice Chancellor of Engineering and National Laboratories, The Texas A&M University System
Dean of Engineering, Texas A&M University
Director, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
Incoming Texas A&M University President (effective June 1, 2021)
University Distinguished Professor
Harold J. Haynes Dean’s Chair Professor
M. Katherine Banks is vice chancellor of engineering and national labs for The Texas A&M University System and dean of the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. As vice chancellor, Banks oversees coordination and collaboration among the engineering, academic and research programs at seven universities throughout the A&M System and three state agencies. She leads A&M System national laboratory engagement and serves as a board member and principal executive engaged with Triad National Security, LLC for the management and operation of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Banks oversees research administration of more than 4,830 projects and $300 million in sponsored research awards. She has made national security research a priority with $16 million in awards from the Department of Defense in 2018 and strategically focused on hypersonics, cyberphysical security and materials in extreme environments. As dean of Texas A&M’s College of Engineering, Banks leads one of the largest engineering schools in the country, with more than 20,000 students and 670 faculty.
Banks was previously the Bowen Engineering Head for the School of Civil Engineering at Purdue University. She received her B.S.E. from the University of Florida, M.S.E. from the University of North Carolina, and Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from Duke University.
Banks is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She is the author or co-author of more than 150 journal articles, proceedings papers and book chapters, and has made more than 200 scholarly or technical presentations before professional and related groups.