hicks

Dr. Joe Hicks is an Associate Teaching Professor in MSU’s Department of Education.  Dr. Hicks grew up in rural Wyoming and previously taught as a middle school social studies teacher in Colorado. He also served as Director of the MSU After School Initiative for nine years, coordinating early clinical experiences for over 2500 undergraduates during this time. His teaching and scholarship center on teacher preparation, rural clinical experiences, and retention/persistence of undergraduate subpopulations.

Dr. Hicks is a Faculty Scholar in the Center for Research on Rural Education, co-PI for the ASPIRE project, and director of the rural teacher pathways program. He is responsible for directing and managing all aspects of program delivery, participation, and expansion. Dr. Hicks has been recognized by MSU with awards for Excellence-Faculty Mentor (2026), First Generation Service Excellence (2024), and Outstanding Faculty Member-Collect of EHHD (2021).