‘CSUB is a part of me’

Doctoral student Felisa Patiño-Longoria earns CSU Trustees’ Award, will receive $7,000 scholarship

By California State University, Bakersfield

September 11^th, 2023

Felisa Patiño-Longoria’s journey at California State University, Bakersfield has been somewhat of a departure from the typical student experience.

As a child, her parents — Eva and Joaquin Patiño, both high school educators —would often bring her along on student field trips to CSUB. She quickly grew to love the campus to the point that, when the time came for Patiño-Longoria to consider where she wanted to go for college, there was only one institution that felt like the natural next step for her.

Patiño-Longoria now holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from CSUB and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership program.

“I’ve walked on that campus as a child, as a teenager, as an undergrad and now as a doctoral student. CSUB is a part of me,” she said.

In recognition of her academic success, Patiño-Longoria has been selected as one of 23 students across the CSU system to receive its highest student honor — the Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. The award is given each year to students who demonstrate superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need.

As a 2023 Schools First Federal Credit Union Scholar, Patiño-Longoria will receive a $7,000 scholarship. The winning students will be honored during a ceremony as part of the CSU Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday.

“I never would have thought in my wildest dreams I would have received such an award,” she said. “To be honored for my work on a campus I’ve grown up on, it’s very special to me.”

President Lynnette Zelezny said Patiño-Longoria has proven to be worthy of the award during her time at the university.

“The CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement is the pinnacle of excellence for a student in the largest and most diverse system of public higher education in our country,” she said. “Felisa has devoted her career as an educator to keeping the cultural traditions of folklòrico alive for Valley children, but she wanted to make an even deeper impact and returned to CSUB for her doctorate in educational leadership. That dedication and perseverance is an inspiration to the entire Roadrunner family and the community we are so fortunate to serve.”

Joaquin Patiño Jr. is happy to see his daughter’s hard work be recognized through the award.

“I’m real proud of her,” he said. “She’s put in a lot of work, and it all comes from her heart.”

Felisa Patiño-Longoria poses in her folklorico dress at CSUB. — Felisa Patiño-Longoria has a passion for folklorico and sharing her lifelong knowledge with dance students.

A passion for dancing

As an undergrad, Patiño-Longoria decided to major in Spanish with the intention of becoming a Spanish teacher liker her mother, a fellow CSUB alumna who taught Spanish at West High School.

“Being a teacher is something I’ve always wanted to do because of my upbringing,” she said. “I really enjoyed learning about the culture, the language, everything about Spanish. It tied in with my hobby, which has been Mexican folk dancing.”

Patiño-Longoria has been a folklórico dancer all her life. She even helped found the Mexica Tiahui Ballet Folklorico club on campus in the 1990s while she was pursuing her bachelor’s. She created coursework and has taught Mexican folk dance for the club to over 60 college students throughout her time at CSUB.

“That experience was something I’ll remember forever,” she said of starting the club.

Soon after receiving her bachelor’s in 1994, Patiño-Longoria was hired by the Kern High School District as a Spanish teacher. She held several roles in the district over the course of more than 20 years, including most recently in the district office as a student liaison, during which she encouraged students to consider CSUB when making their college application decisions.

“I believe the campus is doing a great job trying to acknowledge students’ struggles, providing resources for them and really being there to help students succeed. I can personally attest to that,” she said. “To be able in my position as an educator to promote the university and encourage kids to attend there is amazing.”

Patino-Longoria came back to CSUB to get her master’s in education with a concentration in bilingual, multicultural education. She graduated in 2004 along with her brother Octavio, who earned a master’s in education curriculum and instruction.

“That was very cool to be able to graduate with him, with the both of us in education,” she said.

With their parents being retired educators, Octavio Patiño said “for the both of us to walk the stage was very special for our family.”

Octavio, who now works for the Kern Community College District as the director of the district’s K14 Technical Assistance Provider program, was excited to hear that his sister is receiving a CSU Trustees’ Award and is thrilled that she is pursuing a doctorate.

“I’m glad that she’s doing it for her future and to continue her education,” he said. “Hopefully it helps open doors for her so she can do what she’s passionate about.”

Patiño-Longoria poses for a photo with her brother Octavio and their parents after graduating with their master's degrees from CSUB in 2004. — Both Patiño-Longoria, far right, and her brother Octavio graduated with their master's degrees from CSUB in 2004. Their parents, Eva and Joaquin Patiño, attended the commencement ceremony.

'I feel like it's my home'

Patiño-Longoria was unsure at first about returning to CSUB for her doctorate, as it had been nearly 20 years since she was last in college. Her brother ultimately inspired her to apply.

“I felt like a whole new student,” she said. “I doubted myself and wondered if I could do this. It was overwhelming at first, but the support you get at CSUB is second to none. The faculty and staff are ready to help you whenever you need it and they want you to succeed.”

Dr. Mahmoud Suleiman, acting director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, said he has been impressed by Patiño-Longoria’s work and believes she is deserving of the CSU Trustees’ Award.

“Felisa is an accomplished professional, instructional leader and a staunch educator who has gained the respect of her students, colleagues, peers, administrators and community members,” he said. “Her membership in the program reflects our commitment to affirm the intellectual, cultural and ethnic being of aspiring underrepresented female minorities whose rich funds of knowledge, social assets, and global perspectives have largely been neglected in the larger academy. Her well-deserved award is a small token of appreciating Felisa’s outstanding academic productivity and promising leadership journey.”

Patiño-Longoria is in her third year of the program and expects to graduate next spring. Her dissertation focuses on how folklórico affects students’ sense of identity.

“I would like to explore the perception of self that children of color carry with them as they navigate the school system,” she said. “Further, how do these students feel about themselves when they experience folklórico? I hope my dissertation will open minds towards creating a more inclusive curriculum for students of color, especially in the cultural arts.”

Eva Patiño said it’s exciting to see her daughter pursue a doctorate and that she’s “the proudest mom of my two kids and what they’ve accomplished. It’s just amazing.”

While pursuing her doctorate, Patiño-Longoria has been working for the Bakersfield City School District as an academy specialist. She helps create lessons for the district’s Extended Learning Program and teaches folklórico to students.

“It’s been a great learning experience to be able to now know the education system from K through 12,” she said.

Patiño-Longoria hopes her doctorate will help her secure a role as an administrator so she can be involved in making decisions that significantly impact students.

“I would like to be at the table making some of these curriculum decisions for our children, always emphasizing the importance of culture, the importance of self-esteem, that all children can succeed in education and in life,” she said. “I want to be that change in the educational system so that equity reaches our children, especially through the cultural performing arts.”