Dr. Cyndi Frisby is a nationally-recognized authority on media portrayals of minorities, athletes, women and teens. Frisby studies how media messages contribute toward creating or maintaining stereotypes and biases against minorities, athletes, women and teens. Among other topics, she has investigated the sources of American viewers’ fascination with reality television and the effects of idealized images on perceptions of body esteem among African American women. Frisby also studies race and gender representation in sports; she analyzed coverage of black male athletes by magazines and news websites from 2002-2012 and demonstrated that news stories involving instances of crime or violence were more heavily covered when they involved black athletes.

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Additionally, Frisby provides research-based decision-making assistance to health organizations developing communication campaigns for underserved populations. She conducted two separate studies focused on effective messaging on breast cancer prevention among African American women. She found that testimonials from cancer survivors are the most effective way to increase awareness and willingness to have mammograms among this group.

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Frisby’s enthusiasm for her research is reflected clearly in the classroom, where she has won numerous awards for excellence in teaching. In 2002 the University of Missouri awarded her one of its highest teaching honors, the William T. Kemper Fellowship. Student-athletes recognized her outstanding teaching by naming her one of the four Most Inspiring Professors on the MU campus in 2007. Several Mizzou ’39 honorees have named Frisby as their mentor. Mizzou ’39 honors outstanding seniors for their academic achievements, leadership and service.

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Frisby earned her doctorate degree and her master’s degree from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications. She joined the Missouri School of Journalism faculty in January 1998 and is a full professor of strategic communication with a joint appointment in the communication department in the College of Arts and Science.