California state University, Fresno, has announced it will fly flags at half-staff to honor the memory of Dr. Joseph I. Castro, who died this week at 58 after a battle with colon cancer.
His journey started in a small town in the Valley as a first-generation student. He rose to lead the largest public university system in the country, inspiring many, Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said in a statement.
Castro was a professor of educational leadership and a talented scholar in the fields of leadership and public policy, having mentored hundreds of scholars and practitioners, including many university presidents and senior officials.
Before he was appointed president of Fresno State in 2013, Castro worked within the University of California system for 23 years.
He also served as vice chancellor of student academic affairs and as a professor of family and community medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, from 2006 to 2013.
Earlier in his career, he held faculty or administrative leadership roles at four other University of California campuses—Berkeley, Davis, Merced, and Santa Barbara.
Castro’s appointment as the eighth chancellor of California State University came nearly five years after the launch of Graduation Initiative 2025, an ambitious plan to boost graduation rates, close equity gaps in degree completion, and address California’s workforce needs.
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) said Castro was a tireless advocate for students nationwide.
Additionally, HACU has announced that Dr. David Mendez, senior vice president of planning and advancement, has been appointed interim CEO, effective August 16, 2025
Mendez will oversee HACU’s operations, programs, and strategic initiatives outlined in the 2023–2027 Strategic Plan. He will work closely with HACU’s leadership team, member institutions, and partners to continue expanding opportunities for all Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
In addition to announcing the interim CEO appointment, HACU clarified that the 25% threshold, which defines Hispanic-Serving Institutions, is intended to distribute federal funding rather than to exclude, label, or give preference to individual applicants.
The Department of Justice recently announced that it will not defend $350 million in funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), including 121 in Texas.
According to HACU’s statement, eliminating HSI program grants would remove essential resources, not just for HSIs but also for other initiatives that support a significant number of first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented college students.
HACU supports more than 600 Hispanic-Serving Institutions that educate over 5.6 million students and contribute to the nation’s future success.
According to HACU, the effort to end the HSI grant program will disproportionately harm all students attending these colleges and universities, as well as their communities.
Congress established HSIs in 1992 to recognize institutions with a high enrollment of Hispanic students. The Higher Education Act defines an HSI’s purpose as providing federal funding and resources to colleges and universities serving a significant number of Hispanic students, thereby promoting their success in higher education.
Following the news of Dr. Joseph I. Castro’s passing, we pause to reflect on his long career in public higher education, his unwavering dedication to expanding access for all students and his personal connection to the Valley. pic.twitter.com/S5PhnriAdZ
— Fresno State (@Fresno_State) August 25, 2025
HACU has issued a statement on the passing of Joseph Castro, former Fresno State president and California State University chancellor.https://t.co/vMPyhzYiFo pic.twitter.com/PqSH8cAAeU
— HACU (@HACUNews) August 25, 2025
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