The Texas State University System Board of Regents recognized Texas State University’s Elizabeth Eger, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies, and Cindy Royal, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, as TSUS Regents’ Teachers for 2024.
The awards were presented Feb. 14 at the TSUS Board of Regents meeting in Austin.
The Regents' Teacher Award recognizes exceptional teachers based on their outstanding performance as educators, contributions to the development of courses and use of innovative teaching methods, among other criteria. Winners maintain the title of "Regents' Teacher" for the duration of their service within TSUS. Eger and Royal are the 14th and 15th recipients from Texas State.
Eger has taught nine undergraduate and graduate courses in organizational communication, qualitative methods, gender and communication, LGBTQ+ communication and work, identity and difference. As a faculty member, she has chaired or served on committees for four master’s theses, 17 master’s academic and professional portfolios, four master’s comprehensive exit exams and three undergraduate instructional practicums. One of the students she mentored received the Top Master’s Thesis for Rhetorical/Critical Analysis from the National Communication Association’s education section. She has co-authored eight publications with 18 of her students, presented seven conference papers with 14 of her students and has supported several graduate and undergraduate students with the nearly $300,000 in grant funding she has received for her research and teaching projects.
Royal’s philosophy of teaching reflects a progressive approach to media, an emphasis on experiential learning and a calling to inspire an innovative spirit. Her digital media innovation courses balance theory and skills through group activities, lab workshops, student presentations, professional speakers and experiential projects. Courses developed by Royal include the fundamentals of digital/online media; web design and publishing; coding and data skills for communicators; mobile media development; graduate digital media issues; and a digital media innovation capstone where students emerge with highly marketable skills and an online portfolio. Because of her curriculum development and instructional style, her students have quickly entered remarkable career paths.