Heather grew up in Port Isabel, Texas and graduated as Valedictorian from Port Isabel High School in 1997.  Heather attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and graduated with a B.A. 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.  
        
Heather attended Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas.  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.  Heather received her J.D. from Southern Methodist University in May 2004.  She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2004 and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas in 2005.  Heather was named a 2007, 2008 and 2009 Rising Star. 

Heather is a member of the Cameron County Bar Association, Cameron County Young Lawyer’s Association, Hidalgo County Bar Association, as well as a member of the Board of Directors for the Laguna Madre Habitat for Humanity.  Heather is fluent in Spanish.