LONG BEACH, Calif. (KNX) — California State University Chancellor Joseph I. Castro tendered his resignation on Thursday, effective immediately, according to the CSU public affairs office. The CSU Board of Trustees accepted his resignation, according to a university news release.
Castro’s resignation came on the day the board convened to discuss whether to commission an independent investigation into allegations that he covered up sexual harassment and discrimination claims duringhis time as president of Cal State Fresno.
The complaints centered on a former Cal State Fresno administrator, Frank Lamas, a vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, who was the subject of two administrative investigations in 2019. According to USA Today, Investigators found that Lamas instituted a hostile work environment in which he flew into fits of rage, yelled and belittled direct reports, slammed his hands on furniture, and engaged in misogyny and sexual harassment.
Castro was president of Cal State Fresno at the time of the investigations. Instead of more thoroughly investigating the complaints against Lamas, he allowed him to retire with a generous severance package.
Under a settlement agreement Lamas signed in 2020, he was paid $260,000. Castro also wrote Lamas a positive letter of recommendation. Lamas was also permitted to continue working on a special project for Castro remotely until his official retirement date of Dec. 31, 2020. Lamas was allowed to return to campus if Castro authorized a visit.
Shortly after Lamas signed the settlement agreement, Castro was appointed to the position of CSU chancellor. When he was interviewed by a search committee for the job, he never mentioned the investigation into Lamas at Cal State Fresno, according to The Orange County Register.
Faculty and staff at Cal State Long Beach began circulating a petition earlier this month calling for Castro’s resignation over the handling of claims against Lamas.
“Castro’s actions covering up sexual harassment and discriination over a six-year period at Fresno State indicate that he does not believe the CSU needs to abide by the regulations of Title IX, and he will not protect those of us who are most likely to be victimized by predators like Lamas,” CSU Long Beach professors Emily Berquist and Sabrina Alimahomed-Wilson said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
Title IX protects individuals from gender discrimination in school programs or activities receiving federal funding.
“I have been honored to serve the California State University for more than eight years, including as its eighth chancellor, and the decision to resign is the most difficult of my professional life," Castro said in a statement Thursday. “While I disagree with many aspects of recent media reports and the ensuing commentary, it has become clear to me that resigning at this time is necessary so that the CSU can maintain its focus squarely on its educational mission and the impactful work yet to be done."
A succession plan to replace Castro is being finalized by the CSU Board of Trustees. Steve Relyea, Executive Vice Chancellor and CFO, will serve as acting chancellor until an interim appointment is made.
“The Board of Trustees also intends to launch an initiative to strengthen institutional culture across the largest public four-year system of higher education and bring CSU to the forefront of Title IX innovation, accountability and response,” the university said in Thursday’s statement.
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