Heather Caudle Welcome Announcement

Heather Caudle - Welcome

Program Manager, Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking

Heather Caudle joins the Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking at Sam Houston State University as the Program Manager, with a passion for student success and a deep commitment to advancing educational outcomes. A proud graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Master’s in Higher Education and a bachelor’s from the University of Texas at Austin, Heather’s career spans roles at, Texas A&M as a Regional Advisor and at SHSU over the last six years as a Graduate Recruiter and Assistant Director at the Academic Success Center. She found her calling to be a positive influence on students during a study abroad trip to Beijing, where she visited the Dandelion School—a school dedicated to serving children with limited access to education. That experience continues to shape her approach to student support today.

“When Pam Thaler announced her plans to retire after 26 years with the program, we were committed to finding that special someone who shared Pam’s strong commitment to student success and passion for building and creating a program that meets industry needs. Our program has well established outcomes that have resulted in students being placed in successful and sustainable careers while making a strong impact on the banking and financial talent market in Texas and beyond over the years. To be successful, our program must continuously balance industry needs with evolving educational requirements along with the changing needs of our students, so Heather’s skills and educational experience and background make her perfect for this role.  We are so excited to welcome Heather to the team” added Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking Jill Vaughan. Heather’s work has consistently focused on bridging gaps in education—whether through mentoring, supporting first-generation students, or developing tools to address learning loss. During her time at SHSU, she helped connect prospective students to academic programs and took an active role in shaping a core academic support system.

She’s most excited about supporting students in a niche but essential program, blending industry connection with personalized student development. Energized by the collaborative spirit of the “A-team” that is the Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking department, Heather is committed to honoring the strong legacy built by her predecessor, Pam Thaler—while also bringing her own vision, ideas, and energy to the role to make it distinctly her own.

Outside of work, Heather shares her family’s passion for horses and enjoys staying connected with her equestrian roots. A fun fact—her name was inspired by a beloved pony her mom affectionately called “Heather Pony.”