Campus Directory

Pronouns She, Her

Division Baskin School of Engineering

Department/College/Unit Baskin School of Engineering

Title Research Administrator

Affiliation Staff

Staff Type Administrator

Primary Office Location Remote work location
Works Remotely

Office Hours for Students/ Office Hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mail Stop SOE2

Biography, Education and Training

Preferred Name:  Patty Madrigal

I was born in the United States and moved to León, Guanajuato, Mexico, at the age of 8. This was a common practice among many Mexican-American families at the time to provide their children with better educational opportunities. I had to repeat 3rd grade there to learn Spanish, attended high school, and completed bachillerato (with a focus on civil engineering). After graduating from bachillerato, I became interested in international accounting, which I could study at the University of Guanajuato. However, the administrative officials at the University of Guanajuato informed me that I couldn't study there due to my American citizenship. I returned to the United States and had to complete my GED because the schools I attended wouldn't release my sealed transcripts to U.S. schools. Determined, I completed my GED and eventually earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from CSUMB, with a focus on accounting. While we were in Mexico, I would return to work in the fields of California during the summers, which helped me become familiar with these areas. As a kid, I marched with César Chávez for the rights of farmworking families. I write this because many of us face numerous challenges, but with persistence and focus, we can overcome them.  

I worked for many years as an assistant controller in the private sector and transitioned to the university education system in 2017.