My dear friend Joseph Castro is ill and receiving hospice care.

Joe, a one-of-a-kind leader with exceptional qualities, led Fresno State, my alma mater, for over seven years. He later became the chancellor of the CSU system.

During his tenure at Fresno State, Joe led the institution to becoming a leading engine of social mobility while improving graduation rates. “Be Bold!” he said, encouraging our entire community to pursue excellence and innovation in everything we do.

But this is only part of Joe’s story.

He opened doors for talented individuals who were also among the most marginalized members of our community — something never before seen at Fresno State. Without Joe, many of these folks wouldn’t have become accomplished in their fields.

From his own experience growing up in the

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