Art of Science Judge: Candy Wilson

Meet retired Air Force Colonel Candy Wilson, Ph.D., a judge for the 2024 Division of Research Art of Science photography and videography contest.

“Art is pre-science, meaning research depends on and grows from art, creativity and boldness,” Wilson said. “Seeing the world through a new lens makes us appreciate the vastness of our world and how learn how much we don’t know.”

During her time on active duty, Wilson saw the vastness of the world as a nurse practitioner and clinical research scientist treating women in and out of uniform. While stationed overseas in Afghanistan, she provided aid and women’s health care to more than 3,000 women and children. Additionally, Wilson, along with three other senior officers, led a Military Women’s Health Research Interest Group. Their findings contributed to a Congressional report in 2015 advocating for increased health for servicewomen on deployments that contributed to all military positions being opened to women.

After three decades and an honorable discharge, Wilson came to FAU in 2022. Wilson currently serves as the interim associate dean of research and scholarship at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. She spearheads a research program comprised of faculty and students that receives local and federal research funding. Her current research pulls from her 20+ years of women’s healthcare experience, with a particular focus on female active-duty military and veterans. She collaborates with others in the same field exploring the reactions of alternative pain therapies for men and women.

“I look forward to judging this contest and seeing the creativity of students and faculty in bringing science to life,” Wilson said.

When Wilson is not in the throes of research or mentoring the next generation of health care professionals, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two cockapoo’s Cooper and Kodiak, better known as Kodi.