President Tomás D. Morales, Cal State San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA — Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás D. Morales announced today that he will step down at the endof the 2025–26 academic year, capping more than a decade in the university’s top job and a 51-year career in higher education.
The announcement was made during CSUSB’s annual convocation for faculty, staff and administrators.
In a statement acknowledging the decision, California State University Chancellor Mildred García praised Morales for guiding the campus “through a period of growth, innovation and transformation,” citing his emphasis on student success, equity and communitypartnerships.
The CSU said a national search will be launched for his successor.
Morales, CSUSB’s fourth president since 1965, has led the university since 2012.
During his tenure, the campus completed its first fundraising campaign, which raised $54 million and doubled the endowment, andexpanded academic offerings and facilities in San Bernardino and at the Palm Desert Campus, according to the university.
At the convocation, Morales told the campus community, “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as your president. And I look forward to moving into this next year with you.”
He added that his pride in the institution is “not just words,” expressing confidence in the university’s future.
Neither the CSU nor Morales provided a specific reason for the timing beyond his intention to conclude his service after the coming academic year.
Several local outlets characterized the move as a retirement, noting his 13 years as president and five decades in higher education.
The Inland Empire Community Foundation publicly congratulated Morales and highlighted his “extraordinary legacy of leadership” as he steps down.
CSUSB’s Palm Desert Campus and regional media also amplified the news on social channels, underscoring his influence in the Coachella Valley and across the Inland Empire.
Under CSU policy, the chair of the Board of Trustees and the chancellor will appoint a committee of campus and communitystakeholders to lead the search for CSUSB’s next president.
The system did not provide a specific timeline for naming a successor but said the process would begin soon.
Morales’s presidency has included efforts to expand degree programs in high-demand fields, strengthen partnerships with local K-12 districts and community colleges, and position the university as an anchor institution for the region, the CSU said.
In her statement, García credited Morales with elevating CSUSB’s voice nationally through leadership roles in higher-educationorganizations, including serving as chair of the board of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
