Stanley Banks

College of Arts and Sciences – B.A. ’79, M.A. ’91

Defying the Odds Award

Stanley Banks, the 2008 Defying the Odds Award recipient, has made great strides since the days of his youth – from growing up in poverty near the 18th and Vine jazz district to university professor. He is currently an assistant professor of English and artist-in-residence at Avila University and uses his writing and literature courses and workshops to help other minority authors find their voices.

An alumnus of the College of Arts and Sciences where he earned a Bachelor and a Master of Arts degrees from UMKC, Banks is the author of two poetry collections – “Blue Beat Syncopation: Selected Poems” and “On 10th Alley Way.”

Also, he is a contributor to numerous collections of poetry and has served as guest faculty member for the UMKC writing conferences.

Read more about Alumni Award recipients’ life lessons in Perspectives.