Jeff Banks named vice chancellor for human resources at DU
Dear DU community members,
We are very pleased to introduce Jeff Banks, who will join the University of Denver as our vice chancellor for human resources effective March 21, 2022.
Jeff brings extensive experience in human resources, serving most recently as the senior associate vice president for university personnel for Sonoma State University in Sonoma County, California. In his role with Sonoma, Jeff led DEI-focused work, co-chaired campus climate survey initiatives, and championed effective systems to support human resources recruiting efforts. Jeff is in the process of obtaining his Ed.D. in human resource and workforce development from the University of Arkansas where he previously earned his master’s in operations management. Jeff also has a bachelor’s in biology.
“I am truly humbled by the opportunity to join the DU community as the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources,” Jeff said. “The University of Denver is a growing campus on the rise, and I feel very fortunate to become a part of such an amazing institution! I look forward to serving all of the students, faculty, staff, administrators and Board members who contribute to making the University of Denver such a special place.”
We are eager and excited to welcome Jeff to our team. Not only does Jeff possess the depth of experience and expertise to succeed, but he has already demonstrated his proficiency with strategic thinking, his commitment to employee wellness efforts, and a compassionate nature, all of which will serve him well as a trusted advisor and champion for his colleagues in matters pertaining to employee relations. Moreover, he is passionate about enhancing DU’s recruitment efforts to ensure DU is recognized as an employer of choice.
Jeff will join the University of Denver virtually to start and will relocate to the area in the coming months. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys fishing, hiking, and cooking with his wife of nearly 27 years, Janay. They especially enjoy hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park and are excited to try other trails throughout Colorado. They have two adult sons, Tyler and Hunter, and a precious granddaughter, Harper, who will soon be 5 years old.
We would like to thank Jerron Lowe, who has served so effectively as interim vice chancellor for human resources and inclusive community since April 2020. We are deeply grateful to have had his leadership in this role, especially during these very challenging COVID years, and we are honored to have him remain as a part of our HRIC team.
Finally, our sincere thanks go to Lynn Coutts and Rosalynn Feagins, who so ably co-chaired the search, and the entire search committee (listed below) for its very thoughtful work in conducting a successful national search using best practices and an approach defined by transparency, diversity, and fairness.
The other members of the committee are:
Ana Babic Rosario – Assistant Professor, Daniels College of Business
Angela Duggan – Manager, Legal Services and Operations, Office of General Counsel
Chris Bennett – Executive Director, Shared Services
Christopher Whitt – VC DEI, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Christy Cates – AVC, Advancement Operations
Effley Brooks – Teaching Assistant Professor, Pioneer Leadership Living
Emily Babb – AVC, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, Office of the Chancellor
Hava Gordon – Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology
Linda Kosten – VP, Budget & Administration, Office of Planning and Budget
Nathan Willers – Director of Communications, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Tiffany Wen – Director, Internal Audit
Travis Heath – Associate Professor, Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Vivek Choudhury – Dean, Daniels College of Business
Please join us in welcoming Jeff to the University of Denver!
Sincerely,
Jeremy Haefner
Chancellor
Leslie Brunelli
Senior Vice Chancellor for Business and Financial Affairs