FRESNO, Calif. – Joseph I. Castro, the eighth president of Fresno State and former chancellor of the California State University system who led with a mantra calling for students to “Be Bold,” has died at the age of 58, according to his family.
Castro battled "a courageous journey with cancer," the family said in a statement shortly after his death on Sunday. Castro was being cared for at UC Irvine Medical Center. Funeral services will take place in Santa Barbara.
Flags on the Fresno State campus flew at half-staff on Monday as students and faculty heard the news.
Dr. Estevan Parra-Guerrero worked closely with Castro. He says the loss is being felt deeply.
“He was born with the gift to really connect with people. Just walking into the room, he was lighting up the room, and it really made you want to hug him because he was a people's person,” he said.
Olga Nunez worked with Castro in and out of Fresno State, and says she will always remember his kindness.
“He made me feel important when I was around and he would give undivided attention to you. He wasn’t looking around the room,” she said.
Current Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval lauded Castro’s work on initiatives focused on student success and social mobility.
Castro was the first Latino and California native to lead the university. He oversaw rising enrollment and graduation rates during his tenure before being appointed CSU Chancellor in September 2020. He resigned just over a year later in scandal over criticism that he mishandled sexual harassment claims at Fresno State.
Raised by a single mother, Castro grew up in Hanford, and was the first in his family to graduate from college. He earned a master’s from UC Berkeley and a doctorate from Stanford. Before serving as Fresno State president, he held several positions within the University of California.
He held roles at UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis and UC San Francisco, and was a founding staff member at UC Merced, where he served as campus director for academic programs from 1997 to 2001 during its early years.
UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz priased Castro’s dedication to education.
“His journey from Hanford in the Central Valley to the most prestigious public higher education institutions exemplified his perseverance and purpose,” she wrote.
In a 2013 interview with KVPR, as was incoming at Fresno State, he said "I'm going to be president for every student and faculty member and every staff member. That's very important to me that I do that. I'm going to support everyone here."
Castro's family says he was "a devoted husband, father, and man of faith."
“We take comfort in knowing that Joe’s life was guided by a desire to open doors of opportunity for others," the family wrote.
Democratic Rep. Jim Costa, who had professional ties with Castro through regional and educational initiatives, praised Castro.
“I will remember him not only for his many accomplishments, but for his kindness, generosity, and heart. He was a true son of the Valley who never forgot where he came from and never stopped giving back,” Costa said.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said Castro made an impact on the region.
“He was a visionary in the education sector whose leadership and dedication opened doors for countless students and families across our community,” Dyer said.
