FRESNO - Joseph Castro, former Fresno State president and California State University (CSU) chancellor, for whom it was reported last week began hospice care, has passed away at the age of 58 after a long battle with cancer.

Castro served as Fresno State president for seven years from 2013 to 2020. In 2020, he was the first California native and person of color to be appointed by the CSU Board of Trustees to serve as the CSU chancellor.

In 2022, Castro was under scrutiny for how he handled sexual misconduct allegations against former Fresno State Vice President Frank Lamas, who was facing allegations of sexual harassment, bullying, and workplace retaliation while serving alongside Castro. Castro ultimately resigned from his position as CSU chancellor.

A year later, Castro took a position as a public policy professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo but resigned due to his worsening health.

Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval released a statement about Castro to the university.

“Dr. Castro made history as the first person of color to serve as president of Fresno State and later as the first Valley native, first Californian, and first person of color to lead the California State University system as chancellor,” Jiménez-Sandoval said. “While his tenure in leadership included moments that prompted important conversations within our community, we mark his passing with compassion and care for all who loved him.”

Jiménez-Sandoval said that Fresno State will be lowering its flags to half-staff to honor Castro’s life. Castro’s final resting place will be in Santa Barbara, California.