Over her two decades at Cal State Fullerton, communications lecturer Michelle Kurland has taught hundreds of students and won a variety of awards, but she can also boast of succeeding where many a C-suite media executive has failed — bringing financial stability to a newspaper.
While the broader media industry saw waves of layoffs and cutbacks in coverage, Kurland helped bring the Daily Titan “from the pecuniary abyss to financial health,” said Walter Baranger ’86 (communications-journalism), a retired lecturer and New York Times editor who served as the student-run paper’s news adviser from 2019 to 2023.
Kurland also helped create curriculum to build students’ digital skills, she offers them hands-on experiences in and out of the classroom, and her students and colleagues say she’s both dynamic and nurturing. That blend of qualities is among the reasons Kurland was named the university’s 2025 Outstanding Lecturer.
When she joined CSUF in 2005, Kurland brought more than a decade of experience in advertising and public relations, with a client list that included Krispy Kreme and Oral-B.
She incorporates real-world activities into her lessons — like having her advertising sales students make cold calls, something recent graduate Kristen Griffiths ’18 (B.A. communications-advertising) said was “terrifying” but prepared her well for a job in the industry. Griffiths now works as vice president of an automotive ad agency.
“Working directly with students in real-world settings is deeply important to me, as it’s where I believe my mentorship can have the greatest impact,” Kurland said. “These hands-on experiences not only strengthen students’ technical and interpersonal skills but also build the confidence they need to effectively present themselves after graduation.”
She regularly takes students to the annual College Media and Business Advertising Managers conference to learn and network, and she has served as the Daily Titan’s advertising and marketing faculty adviser since 2015.
The Outstanding Lecturer Award recognizes faculty members who promote learning outside the classroom, work to improve curriculum and teaching practices, and show a history of superior teaching. To CSUF College of Communications Dean Jason M. Shepard, Kurland is that total package.
“Michelle Kurland epitomizes the qualities of an outstanding lecturer: She is a dedicated, inspiring teacher; a diligent contributor to the university and her field; and a committed mentor to students and colleagues alike,” Shepard said.
“She brings a unique blend of contagious optimism, boundless energy and meticulous attention to detail to her work, creating a sense of belonging, collegiality and encouragement in every team she joins.”
Kurland estimates she’s mentored roughly 300 students. She’s now pivoting from advising the Daily Titan staff to helping oversee Comm Week, which brings communications industry professionals to campus as inspiration for students.
“I am thrilled to support our students as they plan and bring to life the largest annual event hosted by the College of Communications. For more than 45 years, this signature event has served as a bridge between students and industry professionals, offering invaluable insight into potential career paths and helping prepare them for life after graduation,” she said.
Some former students say it was Kurland’s support that both guided them toward a career and gave them tools to excel in it.
“She consistently encouraged me to push beyond my comfort zone and take on challenges I hadn’t initially considered,” said Isabel Cambiaso ’22 (B.A. business administration-finance), who now manages digital campaigns for an advertising and marketing firm. “Her encouragement demonstrated the power of mentorship and has influenced the way I now support and inspire others in my career.”