About 60 family members, friends, faculty and staff gathered Friday evening, Oct. 8, in the Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room of the Henry Madden Library for a reception and unveiling of a formal presidential portrait of Dr. Joseph I. Castro.

“It’s wonderful to see you here for this truly special and rare occasion,” current Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said, introducing “the portrait unveiling of Fresno State’s eighth president — a president who made us proud of who we are as a university and empowered us to visualize how deeply we transform the communities of our fertile Valley.”

The unveiling was much more than a ceremonial tradition. It was also a chance to celebrate the Castros’ time in Fresno and with the University, a chance to bring things full circle and reconnect with cherished friends and colleagues.

“Our departure last December from Fresno felt very abrupt,” Dr. Castro said. “We could not adequately express our thanks to all of you for your support because of this crazy COVID thing.” His voice broke as he described how they left: “Amidst the most challenging phase of the pandemic when we quietly left University House on a dark, foggy morning on December the 30th; that was not so much fun to do that without saying goodbye.”

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