Phyllis Darden-Caldwell (formerly Phyllis Tidwell) was born in Taylor, Texas and spent her childhood living in California, Spain and Texas. She received her B.S., Sociology Education (‘80) and M.S., Sociology (‘81) from Prairie View A&M University.
After college, Ms. Darden-Caldwell spent 3 years working for Tideland Signal Corporation managing overseas sales of marine and solar equipment. In 1984, she joined the law firm of Vinson & Elkins LLP as a paralegal where she currently works. She practices in the areas of litigation and antitrust matters with a specialty focus on electronic discovery. During discovery and trial, she works with the Firm’s attorneys and outside technological consultants on various aspects of the case including coordinating electronic discovery and trial presentations and courtroom communication.
Ms. Darden-Caldwell has been able to work on pro bono and community projects that have been supported by V&E and allowed her to give back to the community. As coordinator of the Firm’s Innocence Project, she and her team were responsible for gathering and reviewing documentation for 150 Texas-based cases, which eventually led to the acceptance of 10 cases by Barry Scheck and the Innocence Project in an attempt to exonerate wrongfully convicted inmates. To date, nine persons have been freed from prison based upon DNA evidence—some through the efforts of fellow alumni, Craig Watkins, Dallas County DA. She recently received word that inmate, Timothy Cole had recently been posthumously exonerated as well. She works with the firm’s pro bono advisory boards and assists with research on the Texas Appleseed “Texas School-to-Prison Pipeline” report.
Ms. Darden-Caldwell is frequently called to participate as a speaker/presenter for various paralegal seminars. As a member of the Board of Directors and Chairperson of CLE Seminars for the Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association, she coordinated and facilitated full-day CLE seminars for 3 years. She is a member of several Board of Directors and Committees including the Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association (former board member), the Texas State Bar - Paralegal Division, Institute for Paralegal Education Program Review Board and the Houston Community College Paralegal Advisory Board.
Phyllis is a member of the TransAfrica Forum, immediate past-chair of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. - Ripley House Advisory Board, Greenfield Development Board of Directors, PVAMU Sports Hall of Fame Committee and Capital Campaign Cabinet, 2008 National Association of Professional Women Inductee and the National Council of Negro Women.
Ms. Darden-Caldwell is an active member Mount Corinth Missionary Baptist Church where she participates in several ministries including travel to Haiti as part of a church mission entourage.
She has one son, Philip Tidwell, 23 and she currently resides in Houston.
Copyright © 2009-2011 Prairie View A&M Foundation
Several images courtesy PVAMU.
