Whenever Robin Cadle is talking to someone who is considering going back to college to get a degree, her message is always the same: It’s never too late.

Robin Cadle

Cadle earned her bachelor’s degree when she was in her 40s, and now she serves as the president and CEO of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent and has three master’s degrees from the University of Houston-Victoria.

“One of the most important things people can do is to make the decision to keep learning and reaching for the next step,” Cadle said. “Even if it means only taking one class a semester, that’s a move in the right direction. I’m 70, and I’m about to earn my doctorate. It’s never too late to learn more and earn a degree.”

Cadle will be named the 2025 Distinguished Alumna, the university’s highest alumni award, as part of the 2025 Homecoming Alumni Banquet. In addition, Jena Banda, the deputy emergency management coordinator for the Victoria Office of Emergency Management, will be named the 2025 Young Alumna of the Year.

The two alumni will be recognized during the banquet, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on April 25 at Power Avenue Warehouse, 402 E. Power Ave. The banquet is part of the UHV Homecoming Week festivities from April 21 to 26. Tickets for the event are $30 per person, which includes a catered dinner, a beer and wine reception and an awards presentation for Cadle and Banda. UHV alumni, their friends and families, and community supporters are encouraged to attend the event. Tickets can be purchased online at uhvconnect.org/events.

Amber Countis

“It is so rewarding to be able to recognize outstanding UHV alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and in the community,” said Amber Countis, UHV vice president for university advancement and external relations. “Robin and Jena are great examples of the incredible differences that our graduates are making post-commencement. I am thrilled that we are able to celebrate their achievements and hopefully inspire the next generation of Jaguars as they listen to their stories and learn about the pathways that led them to success before, during, and after their time at UHV. What a great Homecoming this will be, and we invite and welcome community members, friends, family, former teammates and colleagues of these two accomplished women to join us on April 25 to help us cheer them on!”

Cadle’s path to earning her master’s degrees at UHV began in 2001 when she joined the university’s staff as an administrative assistant to an associate vice president. UHV employees had the opportunity to take classes, so she chose to pursue a master’s degree in business, which she earned in 2006. From there, she went on to earn a Master of Education in administration and supervision in 2009, and in 2011 a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in publishing and management. Today, she is close to earning her doctoral degree in business management in nonprofit leadership and management from Liberty University.

In addition to leading the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, Cadle also is involved in several community organizations: Past President of the Victoria Rotary Club, a member of the Decora Study Club, which is part of the Texas General Federation of Women’s Clubs, where she is also serving as the president-elect for the Alamo District of the General Federation of Women’s Club; a board member for the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch; also serving as a board member and Treasurer of Feeding Texas and as one of the newest members of the UHV President’s Regional Advisory Board.

Through her position at the Food Bank, Cadle works to help keep people fed across the Golden Crescent Service Area, which includes an 11-county service area of Calhoun, Colorado, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, Refugio, Wharton and Victoria. As food prices have risen in recent years, the need for resources to feed families has grown across the board, she said. The Food Bank also has a close connection to UHV through the JP’s Market student food pantry, which offers food for UHV and Victoria College students in need at no cost.

This is not the first award that Cadle has received from UHV. In 2020, she was given the People Who Make a Difference Award during the university’s Annual Report event. That award pays tribute to those who have supported the university and made a difference in the quality of life of the community. Now, as she prepares to receive the Distinguished Alumna Award, Cadle is grateful for the recognition and how UHV has impacted her life and the lives of others.

“The classes I took at UHV taught me some of the most important lessons I’ve had about how to be a good leader,” Cadle said. “Now I have the opportunity to use those skills every day at the food bank to support the community and give back to those in need. I’m so excited and honored to receive this award, and I’m looking forward to participating in the university’s Homecoming celebration.”

Jena Banda

Banda graduated from UHV in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and again in 2015 with a master’s degree in criminal justice and homeland security. During her time as a student at the university, she played softball for the Jaguars and was involved on campus, including serving as Student Government Association president during her senior year. Now, 10 years after she earned her master’s degree, she is working toward getting a doctoral degree in fire emergency management from Oklahoma State University and is part of an important team in Victoria and the region.

In her role in the Victoria Office of Emergency Management, Banda helps create plans to make the Victoria and surrounding communities more resilient in the face of possible emergency situations. The office is putting together mitigation projects that will help prepare responses for multiple types of emergencies, from natural disasters such as wildfires, floods and hurricanes to man-made problems such as train derailments. The focus is on creating plans that will improve coordination between different resources and community partners.

“Responding well to a disaster or an emergency takes a community-wide response,” Banda said. “We want to make our community and others in our service area resilient by having plans ready to respond and work toward recovery faster by sharing and coordinating resources.”

During her time at UHV, Banda had several experiences that contributed to her success in her current role. For example, playing on the softball team showed her the importance of having a positive team environment and encouraging connectivity. It also showed her the importance of being a positive representative of a team or organization.

“As a student-athlete, when we put on our jerseys, we were representing UHV, and we knew we not only had to play well but also had to represent the university well,” Banda said. “Now, as a leader in an important community organization, I understand the importance of being someone who is trustworthy and values having that positive perception of who we are and what we do.”

As a student, Banda remembers how her criminal justice courses taught her the importance of social intelligence, especially the importance of being connected to the community. The university’s student-centric culture contributed to her success, she said.

“Dr. Keith Akins was someone who always had time to explain concepts and dig a little deeper into what we were learning,” she said. “His lessons on how community connections and social intelligence can impact a public safety role made a big difference to me. It’s something I use on a daily basis in my current role, whether I’m finding ways to prepare for future incidents, networking with other organizations or looking into the perceptions that communities have about preparedness.”

Banda was surprised to learn she will receive the Young Alumna Award, but she is grateful for the recognition.

“It was such a pleasant surprise. I’m thankful that I was considered for this award, and it means so much to know that someone thought highly enough of me and my work to select me for this honor,” she said.