Congratulations CSU Chancellor-select Joseph Castro

On behalf of the CVHEC Board of Directors, I extend a hearty congratulations to one of our board members, Dr. Joseph I. Castro, president of Fresno State, on his appointment yesterday as chancellor-select of the California State University 23-campus system.

A native Californian born and raised in Hanford here in the Central Valley, Dr. Castro exemplifies the very success story that we at CVHEC strive to realize by increasing the degree attainment rate in our nine-county region. Upon graduation from Hanford High School in 1984, Joe earned degrees at UC Berkeley and Stanford before serving 23 years in the University of California (UC) system.

Then in 2013, this grandson of Mexican immigrants raised in a single-parent home made history when he was named the eighth president of Fresno State becoming the first Latino and valley native to hold that position in its 100-plus year history. Now, he once again makes history as the first California native and first Mexican-American to be appointed CSU chancellor, effective January 4, 2021.

We at CVHEC have come to count on President Castro for his bold leadership and unwavering encouragement of our shared goals and the strong show of support he often extended to his college leader colleagues on the board. During the last six months, as he and other Central Valley higher education have struggled with the challenges of continuing to serve students during this historic pandemic, Dr. Castro provided a strong calming voice. His down-to-earth style that listens to all voices has served him well in the valley and will serve him well as he leads the California State University system and continues the progress of the seven chancellors preceding him.

We especially salute his immediate predecessor, outgoing Chancellor Timothy P. White, also a product of the Central Valley and member institution Fresno State for a job well-done during his eight-year tenure that ends in December with retirement.

We will miss Joe on our board, but we are heartened that a great ally will be just a little further south in Long Beach as we continue to work together to serve our students with the three CSU campuses in the Central Valley: Bakersfield, Fresno and Stanislaus.

Felicidades Chancellor-select Castro …. we look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the CSU.

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D
Executive Director