Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
For Angela Padilla Vidarte, parent and family programs coordinator, belonging was never something she took for granted.
She was about 4 or 5 years old when she came to the United States from Jalisco, Mexico, and entered a school system she didn't understand in a language she didn't speak.
“There were definitely a lot of times when I didn’t feel like I belonged, especially because no one understood me,” she said.
Her parents were learning alongside her. Starting over in a new country meant adjusting to a new language, culture and education system as a family. Her mother became one of her strongest advocates, attending school district meetings, asking questions and ensuring Padilla Vidarte received the support she needed.
“Being different — yes, was it challenging? Of course, 100%,” she said. “However, it made me stronger moving forward, and it helped shape exactly what I wanted to do.”
Looking back, Padilla Vidarte sees advocacy as the foundation for the work she does today — guiding students and their families as they begin their journey as part of the Coyote community.
Today, she helps families at Cal State San Bernardino navigate many of the same questions her family once faced. She approaches the work with a deep sense of purpose because she knows firsthand how much the right guidance can transform a family’s experience.
Finding the right place at CSUSB
When Padilla Vidarte began searching for her first full-time professional position in higher education, CSUSB stood out as more than a job opportunity — it felt like a place where her experience, sense of purpose and passion for supporting families could truly make a difference.
She was drawn to the university’s large first-generation student population, its designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and its commitment to strengthening family engagement through orientation and family programs.
During her interview, she learned that CSUSB wanted to make family engagement a more intentional part of the student experience.
“I was like, ‘Oh, this is where I belong,’” she said.
At CSUSB, Padilla Vidarte began to see how her lived experience, cultural perspective and ability to connect with families could become strengths in her professional work. The position gave her an opportunity to realize those talents by helping families understand higher education, feel connected and see themselves as part of the Coyote community.
Breaking down barriers to higher education
Padilla Vidarte knows families often arrive with practical questions: Will my student be safe? How will we pay for college? What does FAFSA mean? Where can my student go for help?
Her parents taught her the importance of patience, repetition and clear communication — lessons that continue to shape her approach.
“I need to find ways to simplify things for families, have patience with them, consistently send it out,” she said.
In 2025, CampusESP, CSUSB’s family communication portal, helped the university connect with 12,550 families of current students through newsletters, outreach and other communications.
During a family orientation at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, a family member told Padilla Vidarte how much they appreciated the portal and ongoing communication, describing it as “heartwarming” to know families were being cared for, too.
That is the culture she wants to continue building.
About a year after starting her position, Padilla Vidarte was selected to serve on the CampusESP advisory board, giving her an opportunity to share approaches developed at CSUSB and contribute a perspective shaped by her own personal and professional experience.
Representation with a purpose
For Padilla Vidarte, Hispanic Heritage Month adds another layer of meaning to her work.
She often meets families whose experiences feel familiar to her own. Some are navigating a U.S. university for the first time, and she understands the uncertainty that can come with that.
Families have told her, “I’m so glad that there’s someone here that’s able to represent who we are.”
Those moments of connection reassure families that their experiences and cultures belong at the university. They also remind Padilla Vidarte of her parents and the courage it took for her family to begin again in a new country.
The daughter her mother once advocated for is now helping other families open wider doors for the next generation of Coyote families.
Beyond orientation
Padilla Vidarte wants families to remain connected throughout their students’ college experience and understand that CSUSB can be their community, too.
Eventually, she hopes to create a family ambassador program where experienced CSUSB families can guide and support those just beginning their journeys.
At CSUSB, Padilla Vidarte has found a place where her personal experiences and professional strengths come together to serve students and families.