[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 191 (Wednesday, November 12, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





              HONORING THE LEGACY OF DR. JOSEPH I. CASTRO

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 2025

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life 
and legacy of Dr. Joseph Isaac Castro, a devoted educator, public 
servant, and beloved son of California's San Joaquin Valley, who passed 
away on August 14, 2025, at the age of 58, after a courageous battle 
with cancer.
  Dr. Castro's life embodied the American Dream. Born and raised in 
Hanford California, the grandson of Mexican immigrants and farmworkers, 
and the son of a single mother, he rose from humble beginnings to 
become a national leader in high education. He was the first in his 
family to graduate from college, earning degrees from the University of 
California Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University in Higher 
Education Policy and Leadership.
  His remarkable career spanned more than three decades, during which 
he held senior leadership roles across the University of California 
system, including Berkeley, Davis, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and as 
a part of the founding leadership at UC Merced.
  In 2013, Dr. Castro made history by becoming President of California 
State University, Fresno; the first native Californian and first 
Mexican American to serve in this role. Under his transformative 
leadership, Fresno State emerged as a national leader in supporting and 
graduating students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
  On January 4, 2021, Dr. Castro assumed the role of CSU Chancellor, 
becoming the first Mexican American and the first California native to 
lead the 23-campus CSU system. His appointment represents a milestone 
for diversity in higher education and a hopeful future for the nearly 
half a million students across the CSU system.
  Dr. Castro was more than an accomplished academic administrator; he 
was a kind and compassionate man who inspired thousands. He believed 
deeply in the transformative power of education to change lives, 
families, and entire communities. His leadership earned national 
recognition, including the prestigious Ohtli Award, the highest honor 
given by the Government of Mexico for service to the Mexican and 
Mexican American community.
  To his family, Dr. Joseph I. Castro was a devoted husband, father, 
and man of faith. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Mary; their 
children Isaac, Lauren, and Jess; and daughter-in-law, Marilyn; as well 
as by his friends and the many lives he touched throughout his life. 
Even in his final months, he remained guided by purpose and a deep 
belief in every student's potential. His legacy lives on in the lives 
he changed, the institutions he strengthened, and the communities he 
served.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Joseph 
Isaac Castro for his extraordinary service to California and the 
Nation. May his life continue to inspire future generations to lead 
with vision, compassion, and an unshakable commitment to justice and 
opportunity for all.

                          ____________________