2010 Parkway Distinguished Professor
Dr. Martha Hicks
Dr. Hicks is a professor of music and serving in her 14th year of teaching at SBU. In addition she is coordinator of church music and director of Higher Ground ensemble. SBU Higher Ground is a student group that travels to many churches and private schools each year for ministry and concert opportunities. As advisor to all church music majors, she provides caring leadership to these students not only while at SBU but also in their placement to church music positions and to seminaries.
Dr. Hicks views her teaching role as more than schedules, books, notes and tests. She is a model Christian educcator for students as she clearly lives out the SBU mission statement. Dr. Hicks is respected among church musicians across the state of Missouri, particularly for her work in hosting the annual SBU Church Music Workshop, where she organizes forums for the education and development of church musicians already in the field.
Dr. Hicks served Southern Baptists as a music minister prior to coming to SBU, She has participated in workshop conferences at Glorietta and Ridgecrest, acted as worship leadeer at numerous churches and provided leadership for the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference Executive Conference.
Dr. Hicks earned a Bachelor of Science in music education in 1976 from Auburn University. She earned a Master of Church Music in 1982 and a Doctor of Musical Arts in 1991 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.