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Cal State gives $340K job to ex-president who stepped down after discrimination lawsuit
Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Phoebe Huss | CalMatters , LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· July 22, 2026
· 4 min read
Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás Morales. (Photo via California State University) A California State University president who stepped down following a multi-million dollar settlement in a case accusing him of gender-based discrimination and harassment will earn a six-figure salary this co...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Phoebe Huss | CalMatters, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Morales announced his plans for departure last August and officially left the university at the end of this school year, joining an executive transition program in which he will be paid $343,920 over a year-long period starting this August.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The decision to pay former Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás Morales a six-figure salary during his transition period raises questions about accountability within the California State University system. Despite being accused of gender-based discrimination and harassment, Morales remains in good standing with the university, rendering him eligible for the executive transition program. This move may be perceived as tone-deaf, given the recent $12 million settlement in the lawsuit alleging wrongdoing under his leadership. The fact that Morales will continue to earn a substantial income while working on international initiatives and global partnerships may be seen as a disconnect from the concerns of the local community, which has been affected by the allegations of discrimination and harassment. As the university moves forward, it will be important to monitor how Cal State addresses issues of accountability and transparency, particularly in cases involving high-ranking officials.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 4 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás Morales. (Photo via California State University) A California State University president who stepped down following a multi-million dollar settlement in a case accusing him of gender-based discrimination and harassment will earn a six-figure salary this co...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Phoebe Huss | CalMatters at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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