Renessa A. Banks joined the Mandel School as the Assistant Director of Placement after years of experience in clinical practice. Her extensive social work experience includes many years of providing crisis psychiatric services in hospital settings, as well as medical social work with patients diagnosed with leukemia and HIV. Most recently, she served as an instructor at the University of Kentucky, teaching macro social work practice courses. Renessa’s research centers on health equity, specifically focusing on integrating sexual health as an essential component of holistic health. She developed a trauma-informed, critical framework to guide the teaching of sexual health in social work education. Her work includes detailed guidelines for translating this framework into practice, highlighting innovative teaching strategies that promote cultural humility, open dialogue, and inclusive learning. Renessa earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Akron, a Master of Arts in Therapeutic Recreation from Kent State University, and her Master of Social Work from Capella University. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky. Her areas of interest include health equity, justice-informed sexual health education, and advocacy for inclusive and equitable healthcare practices.
Renessa strongly advocates experiential learning, recognizing its vital role in preparing students for real-world social work practice. She believes practical experiences are essential for developing the skills and confidence to navigate complex practice settings. Committed to accessible education, Renessa actively seeks innovative ways to create inclusive learning environments and expand educational opportunities for all students, ensuring that future social workers are equipped to meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve.