{"id":515199,"date":"2025-05-02T14:15:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T18:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/?p=515199"},"modified":"2025-05-02T16:53:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T20:53:53","slug":"creating-brave-spaces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/creating-brave-spaces\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating ‘Brave Spaces’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laryssa Banks once wanted to be a doctor, to help address health care disparities and broaden access to medical services for disadvantaged groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as Poole College\u2019s new assistant director of student affairs and advocacy for undergraduates, she has no use for thermometers, stethoscopes and blood pressure monitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her tools? Positive energy, a welcoming attitude, solid support \u2014 and a powerful voice to speak for students and their success.      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"one<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Still, Banks sees a parallel between her Poole position and a physician\u2019s role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In considering an OB-GYN and pediatrics career as a child in Philadelphia, she was drawn partly to \u201cgrowing inclusive medical practices\u201d for women of color and others, she says. \u201cWhat I\u2019m doing now is very similar to what I wanted to do as a doctor.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What she\u2019s doing now is overseeing Poole\u2019s Student Hub in Nelson Hall, a community-building space for studying, job interviews, special events and other activities. The Hub is also the meeting place for Poole’s various student groups.  <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n

\u201cDeveloping an inclusive space, a brave space, where you\u2019re encouraged to put your best self forward is very important in higher education.\u201d
<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe live in a world that\u2019s very divisive and good at polarizing and separating people. We need to have more compassion and really learn about each other\u2019s experiences,\u201d Banks says. \u201cDeveloping an inclusive space, a brave space, where you\u2019re encouraged to put your best self forward is very important in higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By reinforcing a sense of belonging, the Hub can inspire students to model that in their careers. \u201cThey\u2019ll need to encourage those brave spaces in industries\u201d after they graduate, Banks says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also works with other staff members to promote Poole Packways, a program that offers high-impact, professional development experiences for students in areas including leadership, cultural expectations and networking. They gain \u201ca tangible list of accomplishments\u201d to help market themselves to employers, she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of her goals for the next academic year is to coordinate with Poole career services staff to revamp the first-generation students\u2019 association and help them develop a leadership team and organize events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"two<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First in Her Role<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Banks is the first person in her job at Poole, based in the Office of Undergraduate Programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy position is important because students don\u2019t always know they have someone here whose entire role is to connect them to opportunities, support them and be a shoulder to cry on sometimes,\u201d she says. \u201cAcademics are important, but the skills and experiences that develop outside the classroom are equally important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role reinforces Poole\u2019s commitment to providing undergraduates with community-growing opportunities and a staff leader like Banks \u201cto serve as a pillar and anchor for students,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banks relied on pillars and anchors as an undergraduate at Temple University. She credits mentors outside the classroom with giving her the guidance she needed to graduate with a degree in health professions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Mayor in Town<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What happened to medical school? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organic chemistry was hard. And Banks\u2019 involvement in Temple\u2019s extracurricular activities \u2014 from student body vice president to orientation leader to sorority member \u2014 introduced her to the many career options in working with students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an undergraduate, she was known as \u201cthe mayor of Temple,\u201d she says. \u201cMy friends used to call me Miss Temple because of the amount of information I had about campus resources. That put me in rooms I never thought I\u2019d be in,\u201d meeting with top campus administrators and learning how universities operate. Next was a master\u2019s degree in higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n

\u201cThe students energize me so much \u2014 their stories, their prospects for the future. I see so much life in them. I see their potential. It really excites me to see where they\u2019re going to go.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Her uncle, Naquan Banks, is a 2014 graduate of Poole\u2019s MBA program. That connection, with the draw of Raleigh and a climate she likes, influenced her decision to choose Poole.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banks wanted a position that combines student leadership development, events management and mentoring different student populations. The Poole role delivers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe students energize me so much \u2014 their stories, their prospects for the future,\u201d she says. \u201cI see so much life in them. I see their potential. It really excites me to see where they\u2019re going to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"one<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Crochet and Beyonc\u00e9<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When she\u2019s not advocating for Poole students, Banks\u2019 life off campus is arts-focused.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her interests include crocheting, practicing standup comedy for open mic nights, and line dancing. Banks, who grew up studying ballet, jazz, hip hop and modern dance, also played violin and piano and once dreamed of attending The Juilliard School for the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now she has a new ambition. The dedicated Beyonc\u00e9 fan wants to try out someday as a dancer for one of the singer\u2019s tours. \u201cI\u2019m going to audition just to audition, to check something off my bucket list. That\u2019ll be my new fun fact,\u201d Banks says.   <\/p>\n\n\n

\n

More from Poole Business: Spring 2025<\/h2>\n

At Poole College, we are committed to more than just awarding diplomas \u2014 we are dedicated to launching careers. <\/p>\n \n

\n \n \n
\n
\n "one\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

The Luxury of Choice<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

New Career Services Director Mark Green has a forward-thinking approach to guiding students in their career search process.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n

\n
\n "hand\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Thought Leadership in Review<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Our faculty experts engaged various audiences by sharing groundbreaking research, analyzing market trends and addressing current events. <\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n \n

\n
\n "Mike\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n

Breaking Barriers<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

As alums themselves and now proud Poole parents, Fran and Mike Lawrence hope their scholarship can help deserving students become part of the Poole Pack.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n See all in current issue<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laryssa Banks once wanted to be a doctor, to help address health care disparities and broaden access to medical services for disadvantaged groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as Poole College\u2019s new assistant director of student affairs and advocacy for undergraduates, she has no use for thermometers, stethoscopes and blood pressure monitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her tools? Positive energy, a welcoming attitude, solid support \u2014 and a powerful voice to speak for students and their success.      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"one<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Still, Banks sees a parallel between her Poole position and a physician\u2019s role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In considering an OB-GYN and pediatrics career as a child in Philadelphia, she was drawn partly to \u201cgrowing inclusive medical practices\u201d for women of color and others, she says. \u201cWhat I\u2019m doing now is very similar to what I wanted to do as a doctor.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What she\u2019s doing now is overseeing Poole\u2019s Student Hub in Nelson Hall, a community-building space for studying, job interviews, special events and other activities. The Hub is also the meeting place for Poole's various student groups.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe live in a world that\u2019s very divisive and good at polarizing and separating people. We need to have more compassion and really learn about each other\u2019s experiences,\u201d Banks says. \u201cDeveloping an inclusive space, a brave space, where you\u2019re encouraged to put your best self forward is very important in higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By reinforcing a sense of belonging, the Hub can inspire students to model that in their careers. \u201cThey\u2019ll need to encourage those brave spaces in industries\u201d after they graduate, Banks says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also works with other staff members to promote Poole Packways, a program that offers high-impact, professional development experiences for students in areas including leadership, cultural expectations and networking. They gain \u201ca tangible list of accomplishments\u201d to help market themselves to employers, she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of her goals for the next academic year is to coordinate with Poole career services staff to revamp the first-generation students\u2019 association and help them develop a leadership team and organize events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"two<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First in Her Role<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Banks is the first person in her job at Poole, based in the Office of Undergraduate Programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy position is important because students don\u2019t always know they have someone here whose entire role is to connect them to opportunities, support them and be a shoulder to cry on sometimes,\u201d she says. \u201cAcademics are important, but the skills and experiences that develop outside the classroom are equally important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role reinforces Poole\u2019s commitment to providing undergraduates with community-growing opportunities and a staff leader like Banks \u201cto serve as a pillar and anchor for students,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banks relied on pillars and anchors as an undergraduate at Temple University. She credits mentors outside the classroom with giving her the guidance she needed to graduate with a degree in health professions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Mayor in Town<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What happened to medical school? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organic chemistry was hard. And Banks\u2019 involvement in Temple\u2019s extracurricular activities \u2014 from student body vice president to orientation leader to sorority member \u2014 introduced her to the many career options in working with students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an undergraduate, she was known as \u201cthe mayor of Temple,\u201d she says. \u201cMy friends used to call me Miss Temple because of the amount of information I had about campus resources. That put me in rooms I never thought I\u2019d be in,\u201d meeting with top campus administrators and learning how universities operate. Next was a master\u2019s degree in higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Her uncle, Naquan Banks, is a 2014 graduate of Poole\u2019s MBA program. That connection, with the draw of Raleigh and a climate she likes, influenced her decision to choose Poole.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banks wanted a position that combines student leadership development, events management and mentoring different student populations. The Poole role delivers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe students energize me so much \u2014 their stories, their prospects for the future,\u201d she says. \u201cI see so much life in them. I see their potential. It really excites me to see where they\u2019re going to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"one<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Crochet and Beyonc\u00e9<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When she\u2019s not advocating for Poole students, Banks\u2019 life off campus is arts-focused.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her interests include crocheting, practicing standup comedy for open mic nights, and line dancing. Banks, who grew up studying ballet, jazz, hip hop and modern dance, also played violin and piano and once dreamed of attending The Juilliard School for the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now she has a new ambition. The dedicated Beyonc\u00e9 fan wants to try out someday as a dancer for one of the singer\u2019s tours. \u201cI\u2019m going to audition just to audition, to check something off my bucket list. That\u2019ll be my new fun fact,\u201d Banks says.   <\/p>\n\n\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Laryssa Banks, the new assistant director of student affairs and advocacy for undergraduates at Poole College, helps students put their best selves forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":515210,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"views\/single-immersive.blade.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Jess Clarke","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-immersive-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_four\",\"displayCategoryID\":5,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Laryssa Banks, the new assistant director of student affairs and advocacy for undergraduates at Poole College, helps students put their best selves forward.\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[77],"class_list":["post-515199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student-alumni"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":5,"name":"Student and Alumni Success","slug":"student-alumni","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=515199"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":515327,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/515199\/revisions\/515327"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/515210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=515199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=515199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=515199"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=515199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}