Cress Thibodeaux Named Elsie Choy Lee Scholar

Stamps graduate student Cressandra ​“Cress” Thibodeaux (MFA​’25) has been named a 2024 – 2025 Elsie Choy Lee Scholar.

Cressandra ​“Cress” Thibodeaux is an accomplished visual artist and filmmaker currently pursuing an MFA at the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art & Design. Her work spans photography, video, and performance, with a focus on exploring themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Cress’s artistic practice is informed by her upbringing in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and the South, as well as her experience as an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

Her work has been exhibited at prestigious venues such as Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland, Fotofest in Houston, and the Station Museum of Contemporary Art, among others. Cress is driven by a deep sense of responsibility to use her art as a means of advocacy, particularly for Indigenous rights and representation. Through her photography and filmmaking, she aims to challenge stereotypes, amplify marginalized voices, and create a more inclusive and just world.

The Elsie Choy Lee Scholarship, granted by CEW+ at the University of Michigan, assists undergraduate and graduate students pursuing their own work in art, writing, or music. 

Established in 1964, CEW+ (then known as the Center for the Continuing Education of Women) was founded with a three-part mission of service, advocacy, and research. The Center for the Education of Women+ (now known as CEW+) continues its work today, serving University students, staff and faculty, community members, and all genders, facing education, employment, or other life issues.

Cress Thibodeaux — Center for the Education of Women+ | University of Michigan