Dr. Caldwell specialized in the 20th and 21st century Latin American narrative and gender studies.
She received a M.A. from the University of South Carolina and the Ph.D. from The University of Georgia.
She had served on the Fulbright National Screening Committee. Her research interests included the testimonial narrative, border literature, and foreign language pedagogy. She had published articles in both English and Spanish in various peer-reviewed journals, such as Revista Iberoamericana, Cuadernos Americanos, Revista La Torre, Journal of Intercultural Disciplines, and Foreign Language Annals. Her book, Narrative Voices and the Liberation Movement in the Mexican State of Chiapas was published in 2004.
Dr. Caldwell served as a faculty advisor for the Chi Theta Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society.