Former Cal State Chancellor and Cal Poly professor Joseph I. Castro passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer, his family announced. He was 58 years old.
Castro served as the first-ever California native and Mexican-American Cal State Chancellor from 2020 to 2022, before teaching at Cal Poly, where his brief tenure drew backlash from faculty and students. Despite controversy, Castro cemented his legacy at Cal Poly as a key player in the semester conversion switch.
LEARN ABOUT THE SEMESTER SWITCH: Cal Poly begins transition to semesters with year-round operations on the horizon
The Cal State Chancellor’s Office extended its condolences to those mourning his death.
“The California State University is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Joseph I. Castro, the university system’s eighth chancellor and former president of Fresno State,” university spokesperson Matt Lazier sent on behalf the office in an email to Mustang News.
President Jeffrey Armstrong expressed his condolences for Castro’s wife and family.
“Joe’s passing is not only a loss to them but also to the countless students he supported and inspired throughout his career,” Lazier wrote on behalf of Armstrong in an email to Mustang News.
Following his resignation as Cal State chancellor in February 2022, Cal Poly’s Office of the Provost said the campus had already made tremendous strides regarding the semester conversion, following through with Castro’s plan. In early 2021, Castro held virtual meetings with all Cal State campuses where he made it clear he expected Cal Poly to move to semesters, according to past Mustang News coverage.
SEMESTER CONVERSION: CSU Chancellor pushed for Cal Poly’s semester conversion, then resigned. What’s next?
Castro’s first-generation roots led to lasting Cal State impact
Castro was born in Hanford into a family with roots from Michoacán, Mexico. Growing up, he received assistance as part of a Head Start program, a federal initiative that supports vulnerable families and youth with early learning, health and well-being. He credited this experience to his belief that early education opportunities are essential to supporting families into greater socioeconomic mobility, according to his legacy website.
“Throughout his distinguished career, Joe never lost sight of his roots as a first-generation student whose life was transformed by educational opportunity,” his legacy website states.
His upbringing was integral in shaping his 35-year career, as he dedicated himself to uplifting students from underserved backgrounds, winning several national leadership recognitions.
Most notably, he was awarded Mexico’s Ohtli Award in 2016, recognizing his work serving Mexican and Mexican-American communities abroad. Castro also developed the Castro & Borges Family Basic Needs Endowment, a scholarship for Fresno State students experiencing financial hardship.
Castro’s legacy includes controversy
His career in higher education leadership came to an end in February 2022, after a USA Today investigation revealed Castro reportedly mishandled sexual misconduct complaints against former Fresno State administrator Frank Lamas during his time as Cal State chancellor.
Mustang News previously reported on Castro’s response to the investigation, citing Castro’s “willingness to be apologetic.”
“I want to acknowledge the pain suffered by the members of the Fresno State community,” Castro wrote in an open letter. “To those who were hurt by Dr. Lamas’ behavior and actions, I am deeply and profoundly sorry.”
READ MORE: CSU Chancellor resigns after allegations he mishandled sexual misconduct
According to the USA Today report, “Castro, the school’s human resources department, and its Title IX office received at least 12 complaints about Lamas.”
Following his resignation as chancellor, Castro was granted retreat rights. This meant he could choose to move to a position at another Cal State campus or be appointed as a tenured professor at Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business.
CASTRO JOINS CAL POLY: Resigned CSU Chancellor ignored sexual misconduct complaints. Now, he’s set to teach at Cal Poly
In April 2023, Castro exercised his retreat rights, becoming a professor at Cal Poly. Upon his announcement, students, the ASI Board of Directors and Cal Poly faculty called on Castro to abort his retreat rights. Cal Poly faculty cited disruption to campus, eventually passing an Academic Senate resolution calling on Castro to turn down the position.
Despite efforts to remove him, Castro started teaching Leading Social Innovations in Organizations (BUS 476) in April 2023 and through the 2023-24 academic year. He was escorted to his first class with security and was met with protesters outside his door. During the class, a student asked if he felt qualified to teach a leadership class, to which he responded “Oh yeah, I feel qualified because I can learn from my past mistakes.”
CASTRO’S FIRST WEEK: Resigned CSU Chancellor Castro had his first week at Cal Poly. Here’s how it went
In May 2024, a year after starting at Cal Poly, Castro announced his immediate retirement from Cal Poly due to serious health concerns.
Castro is remembered by his impact on the Cal State System
As chancellor, he secured the largest budget in CSU history and launched a success initiative providing iPad Air devices to nearly 35,000 first-year and transfer students to help close the digital divide, according to his legacy website. He additionally developed a $50 million public-private partnership with Apple and Gov. Gavin Newsom to create the Global Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Equity Innovation Hub.
During his seven-year tenure as the president of Fresno State, the campus greatly diversified. Hispanic enrollment went from 40.6% to 49.3%, according to Fresno State enrollment data. The university’s graduation rates and diversity also significantly increased.
READ ABOUT CAL POLY’S HSI STATUS: Road to HSI: Hispanic/Latino enrollment hits 25% for the first time
Castro is remembered by his, “warmth, generosity, and conviction in the power of education to change lives,” his family wrote in a public statement.
“As his family, we take comfort in knowing that Joe’s life was guided by a desire to open doors of opportunity for others,” his family wrote, adding, “He held fast to the belief that education could strengthen families and transform communities.”
Update: This story was updated 2:26 p.m. on Aug. 26 to reflect a corrected statement from Matt Lazier on behalf of President Armstrong. A previous version included a misquote provided in Lazier’s email response.