Joseph Castro, the former chancellor of California State University and president of Fresno State University, died on Sunday, Aug. 24, his family announced.
He was 58.
“His warmth, generosity, and conviction in the power of education to change lives touched his family most deeply and extended to students, colleagues, and communities across California and beyond,” his family wrote in a memoriam published online.
Appointed as the eighth chancellor of California State University in 2020, Castro was praised by the Cal State Student Association for how his story reflected the story of many CSU students.
“CSSA recognizes Chancellor-Select Castro’s story as the grandson of immigrants from Mexico, son of a single mother, and the first in his family to graduate from college; a story that resembles that of so many students at the CSU and serves as an example of the transformational power of higher education in an individual’s life, their families life, and lives of those in their communities,” CSSA said in 2020.
However, Castro was later the subject of a USA TODAY investigation that found he “took little meaningful action in response to years of sexual harassment complaints” while he was president of Fresno State, complaints that involved former administrator Frank Lamas. Following the release of the investigation, many demanded he step down from his role as chancellor, the Visalia Times Delta, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, reported in 2022.
He resigned in 2022, USA TODAY reported.
Castro, who died after a battle with cancer, is survived by his wife, three children and daughter-in-law, according to his family’s memoriam.
“Dr. Castro’s journey — from a small town in the Valley to leading the largest public university system in the nation — inspired many,” Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said in a statement shared on Facebook. “Our hearts are with his wife Mary, their children, and all who are grieving.”
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Joseph Castro, former California State University chancellor, has died at 58
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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