Derek S. Hicks

Derek S. Hicks is an Associate Professor of Religion and Culture at Wake Forest University. He specializes in African American religion, religion in North America, race studies, and the intersection of religion with foodways and cultural identity. His research bridges theoretical and methodological approaches in religious studies, with particular focus on Black and Womanist theologies. Dr. Hicks currently co-chairs the Religion and Food Group at the American Academy of Religion.

He holds a BA from Grambling State University, an MA from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Rice University. His scholarship has been supported by grants from the Ford Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, Louisville Institute, and others.

Central to his work are themes of race, embodiment, and resilience in Black religious traditions. His award-winning book Reclaiming Spirit in the Black Faith Tradition (2012) explores contemporary African American religious practices. His current monograph, Feeding Flesh and Spirit: Religion, Food, and the Saga of Race in Black America, examines food as a site of cultural and spiritual resistance. Recent publications include analyses of Kendrick Lamar’s music as a lens for understanding poverty policy and political theology.

Hicks has received numerous honors including the Louisville Institute Sabbatical Grant (2018-19) and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Building the Dream Award (2017). He actively engages in public scholarship through lectures on topics like religion and food justice, Black male embodiment, and the relevance of Black religious institutions.

His teaching spans courses such as Culinary Culture in Black Religious Experience and Race and Culture in the Study of Religion, integrating interdisciplinary approaches to religious studies. He also contributes to academic leadership through his ACE Fellows Program participation and service on editorial boards.