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Candace Hicks, associate professor of art in the School of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University, has been selected to receive a Fulbright U.S. Scholar fellowship for the 2024-25 competition period.

Fulbright Scholar Awards are prestigious and competitive fellowships that provide unique opportunities for scholars to teach and conduct research abroad. For her Fulbright Scholar work, Hicks will complete a research and creative project in the Hauts-de-France region from January to July 2025.

Fulbright scholars play a critical role in U.S. public diplomacy, establishing long-term relationships between people and nations, according to Dr. Julie Taylor, director of academic relations, Fulbright Institute of International Education, Washington, D.C. Alumni include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows and thousands of leaders and world-renowned experts in academia and many other fields across the private, public and nonprofit sectors. In addition to Hicks, also chosen from SFA for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award is Roslyn Fraser, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, Geography and Sociology.

“Whether they have selected to teach or conduct research, or take part in an international education administrators seminar, I am certain that the experience will serve to benefit them, their host institution and community, and Stephen F. Austin State University,” Taylor said. “Each year we hear stories about faculty and administrators who return from their Fulbright experiences and contribute to their campus community by not only sharing their own international perspectives, but also inspiring colleagues and students to seek international opportunities.”

Hicks will reside in Amiens and will work closely with the faculty and students of the École supérieure d’art et de design (ESAD). A center for textile manufacturing and innovation since the Middle Ages, the Hauts-de-France region is home to a wealth of artifacts available for study, from the Bayeux Tapestry to the small museum, Bleu de Cocagne, preserving the fabric printing tradition.

After an initial period of researching embroidered and print artifacts, Hicks will conduct a series of workshops in embroidery, with the goal of sharing her knowledge of the craft and recruiting participants for a collaborative exhibition. Collaborators will include art students and interested members of the wider community.

“As an artist, I have been working with embroidery for 20 years to create text-based books and installations on feminist themes,” Hicks said. “I look forward to learning about the rich culture of the region. I hope to establish future exchange opportunities for SFA students interested in studying in France.”

Hicks creates interactive installations and artist’s books that examine gender, voice and parallel universes through the analysis of fictional literature. Her artist’s books are in collections at Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art New York, Banbridge Museum and Spencer Museum of Art, as well as in university collections at Harvard, Yale and Stanford. For more information about the artist, visit candacehicks.com/.

New instructors in percussion and guitar have been added to the faculty of the Music Preparatory Division of the School of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University just in time for summer program offerings.

Dr. Carlos Benson is a percussion educator, artist and composer with an extensive and diverse background. As a high school percussionist, he played with the No. 1 band program in the U.S. Benson won every top honor in Kentucky and the U.S. Upon graduating from high school, he received numerous scholarships, but started his collegiate percussion education with Dr. Robert Schietroma at Morehead State University where he played in Big Band 1 and marched center snare. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music composition at the Berklee College of Music and his master’s and doctorate degrees at Liberty University. Benson has also studied in New York City with Tony Williams (Miles Davis’ drummer) and Jim Chapin.

Beginning his teaching journey when he was 16, Benson’s college summers were spent teaching various high school band camps in Kentucky. After leaving Morehead State University, he traveled the world playing in multiple music ensembles. He maintained residencies in New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville and Miami before settling in Dallas. He owned recording studios in Nashville and Dallas.

He has scored for commercials and films. As a songwriter, he has worked with Michael McDonald, Kenny Cetera and Bill Champlin (“Chicago”), Lou Gramm (“Foreigner”), Vinnie Colaiuta, Buddy Jewell, Rick Crawford and many prolific songwriting partners. Benson has also worked with famed music producer Keith Olsen (“REO Speedwagon,” Pat Benatar, “Heart,” “Santana,” “Bad Company,” “Whitesnake,” “Foreigner,” “Journey” and more) and Andy Hill (vice president of Disney Pictures Music).

Benson is the director/founder of DFJ Int’l, one of the largest worldwide percussion organizations. With 53 chapters across the globe, members include Vinnie Colaiuta, Sheila E., Alex Acuna, Gregg Bissonette, Zoro the Drummer, Teddy Campbell, Bill Bachman and many more. As a clinician, he has traveled the U.S. and many cities worldwide.

Equally comfortable on the nightclub or concert stage, Jim Edmonds is a multi-instrumentalist who specializes in guitar and viola performance. Beginning on violin and transitioning to viola and guitar at a young age, Edmonds started with the Suzuki strings program and continued his “classical” education as an All-state musician at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston; earned an undergraduate degree at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California; and continued graduate studies at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

He has performed with the Santa Barbara Symphony, the Houston Symphony and the Lubbock Symphony alongside artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Giles Apap and Itzhak Perlman. During this time, Edmonds maintained a private guitar studio while teaching courses in music and technology to students of all ages, including a unique musical experience with second-grade students through a grant by the Helen Jones Foundation. As a guitarist and session musician, Edmonds has performed and recorded with numerous artists including “Nick Greer & the Gs,” “The Soul Creatures” and the “Thrift Store Cowboys.” As an opening act, he has shared the stage with Art Garfunkle, Dennis de Young (“Styx”), “Turquaz,” “The Motet,” “The Suffers” and numerous others. He has recorded three full-length albums and numerous EPs/LPs, and he remains active as a recording artist.

Additionally, Edmonds is a talented technical writer, educator and editor with over 18 years’ experience writing, editing and publishing extensively for technology, creative arts, entertainment, non-profit and philanthropic industries.

Registration for various Music Prep summer courses and music camps is still underway. Visit the summer program listing at sfasu.edu/musicprep for a complete list of programs that can range from private lessons, Kindermusik, and piano improvisation to keyboarding, songwriting, show choir and orchestra for various ages.

Registration for private and group instruction can be completed online at sfasu.edu/musicprep for or by calling (936) 468-1291. Prices range from $75 to $210 per month, depending on frequency, type of lesson and lesson length. The Music Prep House is located at 3028 Raguet St. Office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Director Alba Madrid can be contacted at: madrida@sfasu.edu or musicprep@sfasu.edu. Parents can also find program information on Facebook and Instagram.