Heather was born in Harlingen, Texas and raised in Port Isabel, Texas where she graduated as Valedictorian from Port Isabel High School in 1997.She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and graduated with a B.A. degree in Political Science in 2001. While at SMU, Heather was an SMU Scholar, listed on the SMU Honor Roll, and received the SMU Minority Academic Achievement Award. She was also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society, Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges & Universities, and the College Hispanic American Students organization.
She attended Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas where she earned her J.D. degree in 2004. While in law school, Heather was on the Dean’s List, a member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, and Who’s Who Among American Law Students. After her first year of law school, Heather was selected for the American Bar Association Section of Litigation Minority Judicial Internship Program and was a law clerk intern with the Hon. Felix Recio, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division. During law school, Heather was also a law clerk with the Federal Trade Commission Southwest Regional Office in Dallas, Texas. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2004; the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas in 2005; the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas in 2007; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 2006; and the United States Supreme Court in 2010.
Heather was named a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star Young Lawyer in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Heather is a member of the Cameron County Bar Association, Cameron County Young Lawyer’s Association, Hidalgo County Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit. Heather is fluent in Spanish. Heather was a member of Leadership Laguna Madre Class XVII and is a member of the Leadership Laguna Madre Steering Committee. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Madre as Director of Management Services, and also serves as a mentor on the State Bar of Texas Advisory Network.
Heather currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Point Isabel Independent School District.
