Cynthia King’s teaching excellence “does not end at the classroom door, it reverberates through the careers and lives of the people she teaches,” said two-time Cal State Fullerton alum Bayla Gomberg.
“Few educators have the ability to shape a student’s journey across every stage of academic development; Dr. King is one of those rare mentors,” added Gomberg.
King, a professor of communications, has served as a Titan educator for more than 30 years and has taught 24 courses on public relations, entertainment and tourism, media effects, communication theory, and research methods. She has also chaired more than 150 theses and graduate projects and co-authored several research publications alongside her students.
In recognition of her outstanding accomplishments as an educator and commitment to innovative learning practices, King was named the 2026 recipient of Cal State Fullerton’s Carol Barnes Excellence in Teaching Award.
“Dr. King has created a long legacy of impact in the Department of Communications, including work spanning concentrations and disciplines in both the undergraduate and graduate programs,” said Jason Shepard, dean of the College of Communications. “She’s developed close relationships as a mentor with many students, and she’s led efforts to reform curriculum and experiment with pedagogical innovations.”
She helped create the Event Planning and Management course in collaboration with the Newport Beach Film Festival, which has been boosting students’ hands-on experience in communications outreach and event planning for more than 25 years.
Recognizing that the university is located in the heart of Orange County’s entertainment hub, King also collaborated with campus leaders to develop undergraduate and graduate concentrations in entertainment and tourism. In addition, she helped double the college’s graduate enrollment from 40 to 85 students while serving as the graduate adviser from 2021-24.
“For me, teaching has always been about connection — connecting theory to practice, connecting students to opportunities and connecting with my students as individuals. They inspire me every day with their resilience, creativity and drive,” said King. “I’m deeply grateful for this award, but the real honor is being part of my students’ journeys, seeing them grow both personally and professionally.”
As a researcher, she has contributed her expertise to more than 50 publications and presentations. Her research evaluates such topics as PR writing, digital learning and creative problem-solving in PR, and her studies have been published in several prestigious journals, including the Journal of Promotion Management, Media Psychology and Public Relations Review.
A former corporate communications and audience research consultant for clients like Sesame Street, Disney, Apple and Nickelodeon, she brings her industry experience to the classroom to help students launch and advance their careers in the industry.
Shelby Gleba, two-time communications alum and vice president of marketing for Lifescapes International Inc. notes: “She has offered counsel on career decisions, provided perspective during professional challenges, and remained a source of knowledge and encouragement as I have advanced through the marketing field.”