Statement on the California State University’s Search for a New Chancellor

The immediate resignation of Chancellor Joseph I. Castro on Thursday, February 17th means that the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees will embark upon one of its most important duties: the identification and selection of a new Chancellor.

With only one woman having served as Chancellor of the CSU in its long history, the time is now for the CSU Board of Trustees to select a woman who can help write the next phase of the CSU story. With its deep bench of outstanding CSU campus presidents—including eleven women—and talented women who serve as college leaders across California and our nation, the CSU Trustees are starting this search with a wealth of options that should yield a Chancellor who inspires our students, engages our faculty, has a deep understanding of California and a proven track record of improving racial and gender equity. We ask the Trustees to ensure the next Chancellor of the CSU be an unapologetic advocate for racial and gender equity in higher education and has a vision for supporting student success across each campus.