In Remembrance and Honor: Professor Kym Fox

With clarity, courage, and an unwavering belief in the power of journalism to serve the public good, Professor Kym Fox shaped the lives of students, colleagues, and countless future journalists over the course of more than two decades at Texas State University. She passed not only knowledge, but integrity, grit, and compassion into the hands of those she taught.

Kym Fox joined the faculty in 2002 after an incredible 23-year career in daily journalism. A committed newsroom leader, she served as deputy metro editor at the San Antonio Express-News, where she spent much of her tenure reporting on courts and legal affairs. Prior to that, she honed her reporting, editing, and leadership skills at the Mesa Tribune. Her journalism was recognized for its depth and care, including award-winning coverage of child abuse and juvenile justice. She held a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arizona State University and a master’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word.

Professor Fox brought this deep well of professional experience into the classroom, where she taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in data journalism, media law, and the capstone course for journalism majors. Her impact was most visible not just in the curriculum she shaped, but in the people she mentored—students, instructional assistants, and young professionals stepping into a complex world where truth-telling matters.

Fox led the journalism major and served as program coordinator for more than 20 years, cultivating an academic environment grounded in rigor, ethics, and service. Her leadership helped grow and sustain a program that continues to graduate thoughtful, courageous storytellers.

Beyond the university, Fox remained deeply connected to the profession. She was a lifelong member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), served on the national board, and received the SPJ President’s Award for her work with #Press4Education. She also advised the Texas State student chapter and supported the San Antonio chapter’s Gridiron fundraiser with great enthusiasm. She was a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors and contributed meaningfully to initiatives at the intersection of journalism and public health.

Her dedication to community-focused storytelling led to her role as a founding director of Texas Community Health News and a fellow with the Translational Health Research Center at Texas State. The university twice recognized her with the Presidential Award for Excellence—for service in 2008 and for teaching in 2013.

Kym Fox leaves behind a legacy defined by truth, mentorship, and service. Her voice, steady and wise, taught generations of students not just how to report the news—but why it matters. Her presence will be missed, but her impact endures.