EL CAJON, CA, November 06, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Cynthia Darche Park, PhD, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Park celebrates many years' experience in her professional network and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Park has established herself in education with a career spanning nearly six decades, marked by her unwavering commitment to educational equity, outreach and transformative leadership. As the executive director of the Institute for Transformative Education at San Diego State University (SDSU) since 1994, she has been instrumental in evolving the institute from its origins as the Pre-college Institute into a visionary model that addresses the needs of both youth and adult learners from low-income and historically marginalized backgrounds. Under Dr. Park's guidance, the institute has become a beacon for diversity and empowerment, developing structured approaches to enhance staff expertise and supporting individuals in achieving their personal and professional aspirations.

Since 2000, Dr. Park has also served as a principal investigator, co-principal investigator and director with the SDSU Research Foundation, overseeing numerous research initiatives that have expanded opportunities for underrepresented students. Additionally, she became a full professor on campus in 2005, where she has contributed to the university's transformation from a teaching-focused institution to a research powerhouse within the California State University system. Dr. Park's tenure reflects her expertise in educational psychology, academic outreach and bilingual education.

Dr. Park's earlier roles at SDSU included associate professor from 1982 to 2005 and assistant professor between 1977 and 1982. During these years, she developed innovative outreach programs targeting low-income students and cultivated partnerships that have had lasting impacts on the university's mission and reputation.

Before her tenure in California, Dr. Park was a research associate at the Curriculum Research and Development Center at the University of Rhode Island from 1975 to 1977. There, she worked closely with the Portuguese community and played a pivotal role in the founding of a new university in the Azores, collaborating directly with Senator Pell of Rhode Island. This opportunity arose from Dr. Park's growing expertise in community engagement during her doctoral studies.

Outside of education, Dr. Park's professional journey included roles in data analysis, research, and consulting. She first began working with children in 1966 as a head counselor at Camp Wyoda in Vermont. After college, she became an elementary school teacher in Washington, D.C., and then in Colombia. Pivoting into higher education, she was hired as an assistant instructor at the Intensive English Center at the University of Kansas. From there, Dr. Park accepted opportunities as a secondary school demonstration teacher at the Experimental School in Colombia and as a professor of English and phonetics at the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, as a consultant and teacher at ExxonMobil, and as a professor of linguistics at the Universidad de Los Andes, all in Colombia.

Dr. Park earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and economics from The George Washington University in 1966. She later studied at the University of Kansas, where she acquired a master's degree in linguistics in 1972 and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational psychology and research with an emphasis on language development in 1981. Her dedication is further reflected by her active membership in professional organizations, such as the Western Association of Equal Opportunity Personnel and the Council for Opportunity in Education. Meanwhile, Dr. Park's extensive civic engagement has been highlighted by a philanthropic contribution exceeding $1 million to support the Institute for Transformative Education at San Diego State University, an investment ensuring its sustainability for future generations.

A prolific contributor to scholarship, Dr. Park co-authored a published article on student identity and academic achievement, which stemmed from her work on the Science Enrichment Program. She has also authored numerous other journal articles, papers and presentations advancing knowledge within her field.

Throughout her career, Dr. Park has been recognized for her ability to synthesize diverse experiences into a comprehensive "collage" of expertise that informs her big-picture approach to education. She has also become lauded for nurturing relationships, appreciating individual strengths and supporting others on their unique paths toward improvement.

Dr. Park's accolades include the Walter O. Mason Award from the Council for Opportunity in Education, recognition from WESTOP for career accomplishments during the 1990s and an award for outstanding contribution in science education from the Regional Association for Teachers of Science. Among all her achievements, she is most proud of establishing an enduring organization within SDSU that will continue its mission beyond her tenure, supported by external donors committed to its vision.

Attributing much of her success to seizing opportunities, reading widely for context on educational trends and maintaining an unwavering dedication to social justice, Dr. Park also credits her parents for fostering independence and informal mentors for guiding her professional development. Looking ahead, she remains dedicated to supporting underrepresented low-income students as they identify career pathways through higher education, while continuing to develop sustainable models and secure funding for the Institute for Transformative Education. Dr. Park's legacy stands as a testament to transformative leadership grounded in empathy, vision and lifelong dedication to empowering others through education.

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