“Tarleton State is a place where you can truly find your community and grow into who you want to become. There are so many opportunities to get involved, whether that’s through student organizations, leadership roles, or campus events, and those experiences make a lasting impact beyond the classroom.”
Ronique Caldwell
Tarleton State Alumna, Class of 2024 | First Generation Graduate
Each and every Texan who forges their path here at Tarleton State University embarks on a different journey. Whether that journey includes finding one’s self or creating lifelong relationships with those around them, each student’s time on campus changes them.
For Tarleton State alumna and first generation student Ronique Caldwell, her journey included finding herself, finding her village and finding a permanent home at Tarleton State.
Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, raised in The Colony, Texas, Caldwell chose to attend Tarleton State after attending Texan Orientation.
“I chose Tarleton State because it was the perfect fit for me in terms of distance, cost, and class sizes. I am a first-gen student, so I didn’t know much about colleges, but when I toured Tarleton State during Orientation and went to Duck Camp, I knew it was the perfect school for me,” Caldwell said.
Once on campus, Caldwell knew that making her mark would begin with getting involved.
During her time, she was an active member of the Black Student Union (BSU), Anime Club, ASL Club and served as a Tarleton Transition Mentor (TTM).
“My involvement in B.O.L.D had the greatest impact on my college experience. Through B.O.L.D, I built lasting relationships, connected with students from a wide range of backgrounds, and found a strong sense of community. I also had the opportunity to be mentored by Shaquinnsha Hillard, who played a key role in my personal and professional growth. Through these experiences, I developed skills that have prepared me for both the workplace and life beyond college,” Caldwell said.
In May 2024, Caldwell crossed the commencement stage after earning her B.S. in General Business.
However, commencement did not mark the end of Caldwell’s Tarleton State journey.
“I serve as an Editorial and Creative Services Specialist at Tarleton State Fort Worth. In this role, I manage marketing efforts across multiple outreach locations, including Fort Worth, Waco, Online, and Extended Education, with occasional support for RELLIS-Bryan. My work focuses on developing and executing marketing strategies tailored to each audience while maintaining consistency with Tarleton State’s brand,” Caldwell said.
In her day-to-day life, this looks like creating content on various social media platforms for the Tarleton State Fort Worth, Tarleton State Waco and Tarleton State Online accounts. (Give them all a follow!)
Her favorite part of the job is creating content and taking photos at campus events. The ability to actively engage with her audience is what fuels Caldwell’s passion for the job.
“ I love seeing students interact and capturing these moments so that future Texans can see how exciting Tarleton State is,” Caldwell said.
She accredits a lot of her success to the skills she learned while working on campus as a student.
“My time at Tarleton State strongly prepared me for this role. As an education major, I learned how to connect with student audiences, and after transitioning to business, I strengthened my communication skills and gained experience with professional tools. Through the JTAC Newspaper and my internship with Student Engagement and Success, I developed skills in content creation, event marketing, and teamwork that directly apply to my current position,” Caldwell shared.
Since graduating from Tarleton State University, Caldwell’s greatest accomplishments have included moving away from home to live independently and managing over 10 social media platforms in her job’s day to day operations.
“If I could tell future Texans one thing, I would tell them that Tarleton State is the place where you can truly find your community and grow into who you want to become. There are so many opportunities to get involved, whether that’s through student organizations, leadership roles, or campus events, and those experiences make a lasting impact beyond the classroom,” Caldwell said.
Ready to start your journey here at Tarleton State University?