Hello, I am Yvonne Redmond-Brown Banks and I have been at NWC since 1998, as a faculty member and as the Director of the Center of Academic Programs for Support Services (CAPSS), which houses the Disabilities Office for Support Services (DOSS), the Culture and Language Transition (CLT) program, and several committees that deal with ADA needs across campus.

My passion is teaching! I am directly responsible for all the human relations components of the teacher licensure program in the Department of Education, in which I am a full professor. I have memberships in ABWHE-Minnesota Chapter (Association of Black Women in Higher Education); MACAE (Minnesota Association for Continuing Adult Education); MECA (Midwest Educators of Color Association); and MN-AHEAD (Minnesota Association on Higher Education and Disability).

Northwestern diligently seeks to accommodate students with any kind of special need. God created each one of us, and because of that we are challenged with our own unique gifts. The DOSS staff is committed to assisting students face their growth in Christ and their education with the best resources we can offer.

In addition to loving teaching, I really do enjoy working for equal access in higher education for students with unique needs associated with ADA. I have access to God-centered people daily and the energy of the students! Areas of interest for me are related to accessibility, diversity, and inclusion. I spend a lot of my professional time advocating for those labeled “disabled” by society. When I am not in the classroom or providing leadership for the Center of Academic Program for Student Support (CAPSS), I travel.

Committee work allows me opportunities to work with many colleagues across campus outside of the department of education. I sit on the personal committee, the department of education’s exceptions committee, the campus-wide committee, and the diversity initiative committee. Outside of NWC, I am on numerous boards and I truly find the work rewarding.

I believe that life is simple—if we remember what we are called to do. According to Micah 6:8, we are called to "...act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God!"

We are excited to work with students who are willing to be committed and work hard to strive for their goals. We want to meet with students on a regular basis and get to know them and help them along their college journey.

I hope that if you have special needs in areas related to either academic or physical, you will contact our office for assistance.

- Dr. Yvonne RB Banks
651-631-5221 or 1-800-692-4020 ext. 5221
yrbanks@nwc.edu

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the hand cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem [appear to others] to be weaker are indispensable; and the parts that we think are less honorable, we treat with honor [because those parts truly reflect God’s blessing].” 1 Corinthians 4:9