Dr. Brian Banks, J.D., Ph.D., has devoted his life to dismantling broken systems and expanding access, voice, and opportunity for historically marginalized communities. His commitment to transforming public education and the criminal justice system is grounded in lived experience. Having navigated the very systems that continue to fail many Detroit youth, he understands the consequences of inequity and lowered expectations and has dedicated his life to ensuring young people are defined by purpose—not circumstance.

Raised in a low-income, single-parent household in Detroit, Dr. Banks experienced instability and limited resources firsthand. Through resilience, discipline, and vision, he transformed adversity into agency. Today, he stands as a testament to what is possible when accountability, belief, and opportunity intersect—positioning him as both a credible leader and powerful example for vulnerable students.

An accomplished educator, author, civil servant, and entrepreneur, Dr. Banks builds institutions and advances policy that demand excellence while extending grace and support. He is the Founder of Purpose Charter Academy School for Law & Public Service, created to address a critical gap in Metro Detroit’s educational landscape by preparing traditionally underserved students for leadership in law, civic engagement, and public service through rigorous academics and a double-dose literacy model.

Dr. Banks also serves as Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer of MacDowell Preparatory Academy, a K–8 public charter school serving nearly 400 scholars on Detroit’s northwest side, where he has implemented systems that drive academic achievement and strengthen family partnership.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Administration from Wayne State University; a Juris Doctor, with a concentration in Criminal Law, from Michigan State University College of Law; a Ph.D. in Public Policy & Administration from Walden University; and a School Administrator Certification from Wayne State University.