Former California State University, San Bernardino President Tomás Morales is slated to earn a $343,920 salary for a year-long consulting role starting in August 2026.. This financial arrangement follows a $12 million settlement involving allegations of gender-based discrimination and harassment at the university.
The $343,920 consulting role for Tomás Morales
Tomás Morales, the former president of California State University, San Bernardino, will transition into an international consulting position for the Cal State system. According to the report, this role is designed to strengthen the university's international initiatives and global partnerships.. The compensation for this year-long assignment is set at $343,920, covering the period from August 3, 2026, to August 2, 2027.
Cal State Chancellor Mildred Garcia addressed the compensation during a board of trustees committee meeting on Wednesday. Garcia stated that this salary level is typical for Cal State executives participating in the university's executive transition program. This program allows outgoing leaders to maintain a formal connection to the institution while moving between roles.
A $12 million settlement for gender-based discrimination
The financial windfall for Morales comes in the wake of a signifiacnt legal battle involving gender-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. a 2023 lawsuit alleged that Morales and Jake Zhu, a former dean at the San Bernardino Palm Desert campus, engaged in discriminatory practices. The lawsuit resulted in a $12 million settlement paid by Cal State to resolve the claims.
The plaintiffs in the case, Clare Weber and Anissa Rogers, were former administrators at the San Bernardino campus.. As the report details, Weber and Rogers alleged they were pressured to resign after they reported a gender pay gap and instances of discriminatory bullying to university leadership. While the settlement was reached, Cal State has continued to deny any wrongdoing regarding the allegations.
Cal State's "good standing" stance on the transition
Despite the massive settlement, California State University has maintained that Tomás Morales remains in "good standing" within the institution. This specific designation is what renders him eligible for the executive transition program and the subsequent six-figure salary. The university's determination allows the former president to receive benefits typically reserved for executives leaving on standard terms.
In addition to the consulting contract,the Cal State board of trustees unanimously granted Morales the title of "president emeritus" during their Wednesday afternoon meeting. the university described this title as a gesture of appreciation for his service. This move highlights the tension between the university's internal administrative processes and the external legal controversies that led to his departure.
The ambiguity of the "president emeritus" title
The decision to grant Morales honorary status raises several questions regarding institutional accountability. While the university frames the transition as a standard administrative procedure, the specific nature of the "international consulting" work remains unverified. It is unclear what concrete deliverables or milestones Morales must meet to justify the $343,920 payout.
Furthermore,the optics of awarding an "emeritus" title to a leader exiting amidst a $12 million discrimination settlement present a significant challenge for Cal State's public image.. Observers are left to wonder how the university reconciles its commitment to addressing gender-based harassment with the continued financial and honorary support of the executive at the center of the allegations.
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