Interview with California State University Chancellor Dr. Joseph I. Castro

Today we talk to California State University Chancellor Dr. Joseph I. Castro. The former President of Cal State Fresno took on his new role just two months ago. Even as it can be an awkward time to make a transition because of Covid, Dr. Castro says it’s been pretty smooth and that he feels very fortunate to serve at such a consequential time.

With California State University being the nation’s biggest four-year public university system, Dr. Castro loves to be doing things on such a scale that can make a huge difference not just in California but in the nation. With close to half a million students, Dr. Castro says CSU has the opportunity to make a change and transform the lives of people from all different backgrounds. He says that without higher ed so many students and families would have much fewer opportunities, and he looks forward to expanding those opportunities even further.

To prepare for this transition, Dr. Castro has reflected on his own experiences, has done a lot of reading, and has conversed with a huge number of mentors. Surprisingly, Dr. Castro is the first Californian to serve as Chancellor at CSU and he’s very aware of the uniqueness of his position. Dr. Castro says he learned from his grandparents to listen carefully before you speak or make big decisions, and this ability has served him well in his transition. As a chancellor, Dr. Castro says you often find yourself dealing with highly contested issues, but even if people don’t agree with his decisions, they always know he listened thoughtfully before making them.

As someone with a policy background, Dr. Castro has enjoyed working with legislators and the governor. He says he’s also been getting to know CSU’s trustees better and appreciates the opportunity to serve in a new way. One thing Dr. Castro is already proud of is their budget and the ability to have no tuition increases and no layoffs. He says he always tries to make decisions that will lower the stress level so that students can focus on learning and teachers can focus on teaching.

Dr. Castro hopes to remain as flexible and transparent as possible going forward. He’s impressed with student’s resilience and says the potential impact they can have together is enormous. He encourages everyone to stay reasonable and to be optimistic.

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Welcome to innovating together, a podcast produced by the University Innovation Alliance. This is a podcast for busy people in higher education who are looking for the “aha moments” that can propel their work forward. Innovating Together curates the best insights, research, and experts. To connect with us further, visit www.theuia.org.