Cindy Royal is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University and a 2013-2014 Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University. She has taught digital media skills and concepts for more than a decade. Cindy completed Ph.D. studies in Journalism and Mass Communication at The University of Texas at Austin in May 2005. At UT, she focused on the effects of the Internet on communication and culture. Prior to doctoral studies, she had a technology career at Compaq Computer (now part of Hewlett Packard) and NCR Corporation. She has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Richmond and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Cindy hosts a music blog at onthatnote.com and a tech blog at tech.cindyroyal.net. In 2013, she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching at Texas State University and the AEJMC/Scripps Howard Journalism and Mass Communication Teacher of the Year award. Additional detail regarding her research, education and experience can be found atcindyroyal.com.