Judy Patacsil, co-author of Filipinos in San Diego, is a counselor at Miramar College, where she chairs the Miramar College Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and where she founded the Filipino American Student Association. Patacsil co-wrote the companion guide for Silent Sacrifices, a documentary which addresses the struggles of immigrant Filipinos and their American-raised children, and provides a forum for open dialogue to find solutions. Other co-authors for Images of America: Filipinos in San Diego include Rudy Guevarra Jr. and Felix Tuyay.

As a founding member, she is actively involved in the San Diego chapter of the Filipino-American National Historical Society, whose mission is to research, disseminate and celebrate Filipino-American history. Patacsil completed her master’s degree in counseling with an emphasis in multicultural competency from San Diego State. A licensed psychotherapist, she worked in mental health care and SDSU Psychological Services before joining Miramar College in 1992.