Rate My Professor Aaron Banks

Aaron Banks is a Professor of Health and Exercise Science at Gustavus Adolphus College, where he has been a faculty member since 2002. He earned a B.A. from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1996, an M.S. from Miami University, Ohio, in 1998, and an Ed.D. from the University of Northern Colorado in 2001. Banks teaches in the Health and Physical Education area, with expertise in physical education pedagogy, including elementary physical education, physical education history and philosophy, and lifetime activities such as fitness walking and self-defense.

Banks' primary research interests focus on the teaching of self-defense and pedagogical strategies within physical education teacher education programs. He authored the article 'The Incorporation of Self-Defense as a Unit of Study Within Physical Education Teacher Education Programs' published in PELinks4U in 2009, which advocates for incorporating visiting professionals from campus security, diversity centers, and local police to provide comprehensive instruction in awareness, prevention, escape, and recovery. His scholarly contributions also include collaborative research on physical activity levels among college students and the benefits of sport-specific warm-ups in physical education, presented in peer-reviewed abstracts. Banks has been involved in faculty research projects and received a grant from the Kendall Center for Engaged Learning in 2012 to advance his work. In 2019, he won an award at the Minnesota Society for Health and Physical Educators (MNSHAPE) Conference. He has served as an advisor for the Coaching Minor and Health and Physical Education major programs, previously chaired the department, and led student groups on international educational trips related to Olympic studies.