Distinguished Alumni
Vanessa Hicks-Callaway
Awarded 2023
Vanessa Hicks-Callaway perfectly represents Sam Houston State University’s commitment to service as evidenced by a long career of putting her life on the line for others. Her service in the U.S. Army as a supply sergeant and intelligence officer included two separate deployments to combat zones and earned her the Bronze Star Medal.
Hicks-Callaway pursued her bachelor’s degree from SHSU in political science with a minor in military science while serving in the Army Reserves as a military police officer. During this time, she also worked as a correctional officer in a maximum-security prison that housed death row inmates.
She then continued her education by earning her master’s in human resources management from Central Michigan University. In 2011, she released a Christian self-help book, “Decision Precision Vision,” showcasing her devotion to Jesus Christ.
After retiring from the military following 26 years of dedicated service, Hicks-Callaway instructed junior ROTC students as a Senior Army Instructor and never lost her commitment to service. She has volunteered for multiple non-profit organizations, including the Old Landmark Committee, Disabled American Veterans/Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Warriors Weekend, Court Appointed Special Advocate, Victoria Bach Festival, Victoria Police Foundation, community and schools and the Victoria Business Education Coalition as a student mentor. She has also served as president of the Kiwanis Club.
Hicks-Callaway is member of the Republican Party and worked as a congressional staffer for the 27th Congressional District of Texas, US House Representatives for nearly three years. Hicks-Callaway helped lead the fight to re-elect Texas Senator Ted Cruz as his field director for the South-Central Region in the 2018 midterm election. She previously served Texas Governor Greg Abbott as his appointee for the Council for Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Prevention before running for state office in 2020. She remains active in politics and served as a secretary, outreach coordinator and Precinct 21 chair of the Victoria GOP. She is a county and state delegate for the Republican Party of Texas and was a member of the Victoria County Republican Women’s Organization and the Texas Federation of Republican Women (TFRW).
In line with her passion and commitment to helping others, she works as a motivational speaker and plans on writing another self-help book. In her political circles, she is known as “The Black Lady in Red.”
She has been married to fellow Army Veteran Jason Ohm Callaway for 26 years and they have two sons, Eric and Edward Callaway. Eric, was a SHSU full scholarship track athlete, earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical and computer engineering in 2021 and a Master of Science degree in computing and data science from SHSU in 2023. Edward is currently a senior at Victoria East High School and plans to pursue a career in the arts.