Here we share essays written in tribute to Joe Castro—personal accounts that highlight his impact as a leader, mentor, and friend. Together, they capture the breadth of his influence and the legacy he leaves behind.
A Flame for Generations: How Dr. Joseph I. Castro Lit Pathways of Opportunity, Hope, and Belonging
by Diniz Borges
Statement from Dr. Benjamín T. Duran, executive director of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium
I first met Joe in the early 1990s when he was a young professor at University of California, Merced and the director of academic programs at the UC Fresno Center. The first time I met him, he was so energetic and youthful that I mistook him for a student. At the time, I was president of Merced College and that encounter grew into a close personal friendship and professional relationship that lasted for decades. It may sound trite, but Joe was truly one of the good guys. Continue reading
Statement from Friends and Colleagues of Dr. Joseph I. Castro
As friends of Dr. Joseph I. Castro, we join his family in mourning the loss of a remarkable leader and friend. While his professional accomplishments are well known, we remember Joe, the person.
Joe was a first-generation university graduate, the grandson of Mexican immigrants, born and raised in Hanford, California, by a single mother. He served as a mentor and friend to each of us. He spent his career ensuring that students with similar backgrounds—students who were just like him, and like us—had the opportunity to attain a college degree. Continue reading
Dr. Joseph I. Castro In Memoriam 