Alumnae Hall, which sits on the main quad of James Madison University, was built in 1922. While the building has had a variety of uses since its construction, during the time that Donald L. Banks worked at Madison College, the building housed the Counseling Center.
Photograph of Donald L. Banks from the 1971 Bluestone Yearbook.
Donald Lee Banks, a resident of Elkton, Virginia, graduated from Lucy F. Simms High School in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 1957. Banks attended Bridgewater College and graduated in 1961 with his undergraduate degree. Prior to attending Madison College for his master’s degree, Banks served in the United States Army. One Harrisonburg Daily News article notes that Banks joined the Army in 1961 and completed his basic training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. He served as a clerk in the 501st Medical Company in Fulda. In September 1962, Banks traveled to Germany to participate in FALLEX, an annual military exercise that was used to test the readiness and effectiveness of NATO forces.[1] After serving in the Army, Banks taught in Harrisonburg public schools. Banks also worked as a guidance counselor at Harrisonburg High School.
Although it is still not confirmed, it is likely that Banks was the first Black graduate student at Madison College, now James Madison University. In 1969 Banks graduated from Madison College with a master’s degree in counseling. After receiving his graduate degree, Banks worked as a part-time counselor in 1969 at the Madison College counseling center. [2] By 1971 Banks he was the full-time director of the counseling center. In this position, Banks would have worked with the first cohort of Black men and women that were admitted to the college. In the 1970 Madison College telephone directory, the address for Banks is listed under “AL” which was short for Alumnae Hall, indicating that this is where Bank’s office was located.
Photograph of Madison College Counseling Staff from 1970 Yearbook. Donald L. Banks is the man standing on the far right.
Banks eventually left Madison to pursue a doctorate at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. In February 1974, he submitted his thesis for his Doctor of Education degree entitled A Comparative Study of The Reinforcing Potential of Verbal and Nonverbal Cues in a Verbal Conditioning Paradigm. Donald L. Banks later taught as a member of the Psychology department at the University of Massachusetts- Amherst.
[1] “Donald Banks in NATO Exercise,” Harrisonburg Daily News, October 12, 1962.
[2] “Madison’s 39 Faculty Appointments Reflect Rapid Expansion of College,” The Breeze, October 22, 1969.
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