Joseph I. Castro appointed as CSU’s eighth chancellor

The California State University Board of Trustees appointed Joseph I. Castro, Ph.D., as the CSU’s eighth chancellor on Sep. 24.

He is the first Californian and the first Mexican American individual to be appointed chancellor. Starting in January 2021, Castro will oversee the CSU’s 23 campuses succeeding Timothy P. White.

On Sep. 25 he joined a live broadcast with Monica Lozano of College Futures Foundation to discuss his vision for the CSU. In the interview, he addressed his experiences as president of Fresno State, his experience in policymaking and how he believes these will help him as chancellor.

“I’m hopeful that I can inspire the very best in everybody
so we can elevate the CSU to new heights of greatness.”

Joseph Castro

“Universities are one of those institutions in society that transform lives, it was transforming mine and that’s what triggered my interest,” Castro said during the Friday interview.

One of the CSU’s missions is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of California. Today, more than 38% of CSU employees and 60 % of CSU students are people of color.

As a representative of the CSU, Castro’s appointment speaks to the diverse student population the system serves.

His appointment also comes at a peculiar time in history. The CSU system continues to face a number of challenges. Budget cuts, student housing and food insecurity and challenges with virtual learning will be difficult to navigate in the coming years, but Castro remains optimistic.

He is passionate about providing the utmost support for not only students but faculty and staff alike.

During his time as Fresno State University president, Castro implemented and supported several programs that he hopes to expand to the CSU community.

“I’m hopeful that I can inspire the very best in everybody so we can elevate the CSU to new heights of greatness,” Castro said.