M. Katherine Banks is vice chancellor for engineering and national laboratories for The Texas A&M University System and dean of the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. Banks oversees coordination and collaboration among the engineering, academic and research programs at seven universities throughout the Texas A&M System, as well as three state agencies: the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).

Banks is also TEES director, overseeing research administration, technology commercialization and technology workforce development. Between the engineering agencies, she has oversight of $310 million in sponsored research. As dean of Texas A&M’s College of Engineering, University Distinguished Professor and holder of the Harold J. Haynes Dean’s Chair in Engineering, Banks leads one of the largest engineering schools in the country, with 20,800 students and 700 faculty.

Banks is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She leads the 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 is the principal investigator for the recent $65 million cooperative agreement with the CCDC Army Research Laboratory. This cooperative agreement is part of the A&M System initiative with Army Futures Command and the new George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex, a $130 million investment by the System and State of Texas.