Macie Hickman

Advisor

Dr. Beth Allison Barr

Education

MA in History of Christianity, Wheaton College, 2025

BA in English, University of Arkansas, 2022

Biography

I received my undergraduate degree in English, Creative Writing with a minor in Classics from the University of Arkansas. I most recently finished a Masters of Arts in History of Christianity at Wheaton College. 

Research Interests

My present research interests explore the connection between history, religion, and literature, particularly theater, in Reformation England. During my masters degree I focused on Shakespeare’s plays as evidence for an England of mixed confessions through Hamlet’s struggle between Wittenberg and Purgatory, and the emergence of Virgin Saints and the Virgin Mary in Pericles, Measure for Measure, and The Winter’s Tale. As I continue my academic pursuits here at Baylor, I aim to further uncover how a society that moved from visual to auditory worship dealt with these changes in a place where sights and sounds were blended, the early modern stage, by looking further into Shakespeare and his contemporaries. 

Why I Chose Baylor

I chose Baylor University to learn from incredible scholars like Dr. David Whitford whose work on the connection between religion and culture aligns with my research interests in the connection between religion and literature. Dr. Barr’s expertise in England’s context will help me navigate the complex historiography of the English Reformation and her focus on Women’s stories coincides with a budding interest in my own studies.

Selected Activities

Awards

• Kantzer Award in Christian History, Wheaton College, 2025

Fellowships

• Guittard Fellowship, Baylor University, 2025-2026
• Wittenberg Summer Course Student Fellow, 2025