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Irish immigrant's American dream realized through CSUEB MBA degree

Patrick Devine at computer in home office

Patrick Devine at computer in home office

  • January 23, 2012 1:00pm

Patrick Devine’s story begins the way many immigrant stories do: he left his native country, Ireland, at a young age to look for a better life in the United States. His struggle to find stability was compounded by his youth, new surroundings, and lack of higher education. “Coming from Ireland, my father was a carpenter, my mother was a hairdresser, and the idea of going to university was not even within the realm of possibility.”

Making the move to California from the East Coast, Patrick eventually achieved stability with a family and steady employment, developing a niche in compensation and incentive programs within the high-tech industry.

Still lacking higher education, Patrick noted the differences between himself and his coworkers: “When I arrived in California, I quickly realized as I looked around that I really needed a good education if I was to get anywhere.” At the age of 30, Patrick enrolled in then-Cal State Hayward’s class of 1987 for an undergraduate degree in finance and then a MBA in 1991.  

Patrick, CSUEB’s 2010 Alumnus of the Year, is the focus of a new micro-documentary highlighting his life. In the video, Patrick discusses the ways his MBA helped him generally fulfill his potential in life and how ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ turned out to be the right institution for him.  

LP

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