As of Wednesday, Sep. 23, the California State University Board of Trustees elected Joseph Castro to be the next CSU Chancellor following Timothy White’s retirement at the end of the year. Castro, a first generation college student and current President of Fresno State, will be the first person of color to serve as CSU Chancellor in the roughly 60 year line of 7 previous chancellors. 

Castro’s election by the Board represents another landmark for diversity in the California higher education system, as he joins recently selected President Michael Drake of the UC system and Chancellor of California Community Colleges Eloy Ortiz Oakley. This is the first time in the history of California that all 3 branches of public higher education are led by people of color. 

Castro’s grandparents were immigrants from Mexico, making him the first Mexican-descendent to be elected as CSU Chancellor. He has been President at Fresno State for 7 years, after 23 years of prior service to the CSU system in various administrative capacities, as well as several years of professorship in family and community medicine at University of California San Francisco.

As President of Fresno State, Castro has already implemented several practices and policies that have pushed the school towards the diversity currently being sought after in the CSU system. Having received national commendation for his efforts in both recruiting and the graduation of a more diverse student body, Castro has long held the reputation of an advocate for diversity within students and faculty. His program at Cal State Fresno, DISCOVER-e, was introduced to loan technology out to students who might not have access on their own, and also to promote the presence of mobile devices within class proceedings. In this time of virtual learning, his program has helped reduce the number of students who are unable to connect to their classroom, whether it be due to technological limitations or other struggles they may face. 

Castro will be taking up the Chancellorship on Jan. 4, and faces a busy start with the fires, the ongoing struggles with COVID-19, and the pandemic’s continual financial effects on students and staff alike. Additionally, the current Chancellor Timothy White confirmed that CSUs would be continuing their online learning throughout the Spring 2021 semester, and Castro may be forced to combat the looming $300 million budget cut if Congress doesn’t approve additional stimulus before Oct. 1. 

Despite this daunting circumstance, the Board of Trustees consider Castro to be fully qualified to take the abundance of issues on, with Board Chair Lillian Kimbell calling Castro “…A leader that inspires greatness in students, faculty, and in the broader community. He is the right leader for the California State University in our current circumstance and for our future.”

Castro approaches the Chancellorship with excitement and readiness to assume the position, stating, “There is no other institution that makes this great of an impact on the entire state–the CSU is key to a growing and thriving California. I am truly grateful for and excited about this unique and wonderful opportunity.” Castro is set to enter the office at the start of next year.