In her many leadership roles at City Colleges of Chicago, Saundra Weathers Banyard balanced compassion for students with a tough-love attitude.
Mrs. Banyard came to City Colleges in 1985 as an instructional coordinator and rose to hold high-level positions, including financial aid director, dean of student services and most recently vice president of academic affairs at Harold Washington College.
Mrs. Banyard, 58, died of cancer Saturday, Sept. 25, at Seasons Hospice at Weiss Memorial Hospital, her family said.
“She touched the lives of thousands of students,” said friend and former Harold Washington College President John Wozniak. “Sandy was very dedicated to them. That was her claim to fame.
“If students needed help, she was there for them. But if they were causing trouble, she was direct and knew how to handle them,” he said.
Along with her commitment to students, Mrs. Banyard was known for her love of music: Gershwin, Motown classics and especially jazz. One of her favorite songs was Aretha Franklin’s soulful rendition of “Dr. Feelgood.”
“We sang together all the time, in the car, on the way to go shopping,” said Valerie Roberson, a friend and vice president of academic affairs at Joliet Junior College. “She was extremely dedicated to her career, but also found joy in singing.”
Saundra Weathers was born in Englewood, N.J., to the late Robert and Rosalie Weathers. She graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1974, and received a master’s degree at Governors State University in 1994.
Early in her career, Mrs. Banyard showed an interest in mental health and worked at Jackson Park Hospital and as a corrections officer at Cook County Jail.
Her sister, Brenda Weathers Hargroves, said Mrs. Banyard wanted to understand how young people fell into the prison system and came to see education as a crucial factor.
“Saundra deployed massive energy to this quest,” Hargroves said. “The community college system of Chicago became her platform for service.”
For 25 years at City Colleges, Mrs. Banyard worked to strengthen programs in continuing education, improved financial aid services and counseled students on academic courses and careers.
After establishing herself at City Colleges, she was introduced to Carl Banyard, who shared her love of music. They were married in 1994.
In 1999, Mrs. Banyard was promoted to dean of student services at Harold Washington College.
Because of her calm, even-tempered demeanor, co-workers and students often turned to her for honest advice.
“I could always depend on Sandy to give me wise counsel,” Wozniak said. “She was highly respected by everyone who knew her and there is no doubt she would have risen to the top.”
In 2003, she was honored by the American Association for Women in Community Colleges as “Woman of the Year” for her leadership at Harold Washington College.
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“Graduation weekends were her happiest times because she knew she was launching a new crop of capable men and women into the world prepared to make a difference,” her sister said.
She was appointed vice president of academic affairs at Kennedy-King College in 2007 and two years later returned to Harold Washington as vice president of academic and student affairs.
After being diagnosed with cancer, she retired in July.
Besides her sister and husband, she is survived by two stepsons, David and Derek Banyard; and a granddaughter.
Services were held.