California college president Tomas Morales will get $343,920 taxpayer-funded payout

A California college president accused of fostering a office the place gender discrimination and harassment had been allegedly “normal working process” is strolling away with a $343,920 taxpayer-funded paycheck.

The transfer comes simply months after the California State College system paid $12 million to settle the explosive lawsuit that named him.

Regardless of being accused of making a poisonous work atmosphere, outgoing Cal State San Bernardino President Tomas Morales was permitted Wednesday for a one-year government transition task by the California State College Board of Trustees.

The choice instantly drew outrage from the lawyer who represented the 2 former directors behind the lawsuit.

CSU has a big downside with regards to coping with gender discrimination and harassment and retaliation, and we’ve seen nothing up to now to point out that it’s taking this difficulty critically,” Andrew Friedman, a associate with Helmer Friedman LLP who represented the 2 directors, Clare Weber and Anissa Rogers, advised The Los Angeles Instances.

The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accused Morales of discriminating in opposition to ladies, directing “ranting” tirades at feminine workers, approving decrease salaries for ladies than equally located male colleagues and fostering a office the place harassment had develop into “normal working process.”

The grievance additionally named former Palm Desert campus dean Jake Zhu and the CSU Board of Trustees.

Based on the lawsuit, Morales’ alleged conduct was reported to then-interim Chancellor Jolene Koester, who “did completely nothing,” and the college allegedly retaliated in opposition to Weber and Rogers after they raised issues about Morales and Zhu.

Morales, Zhu and the Board of Trustees denied the allegations in court docket filings.

The California State College system settled the lawsuit in March, whereas denying wrongdoing and saying it resolved the case “to keep away from additional prices of litigation.”

Rogers received a $6 million jury award in October 2025, whereas Weber accepted a separate $6 million settlement earlier than trial.

Throughout Wednesday’s Board of Trustees assembly, CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia praised Morales for his “excellent management at Cal State San Bernardino and systemwide” whereas saying the transition task, The Instances reported.

CSU spokeswoman Amy Bentley-Smith advised The Instances the lawsuit “didn’t lead to any findings in opposition to him individually, and litigation outcomes don’t decide an worker’s standing.”

The college mentioned Morales stays in “good standing,” making him eligible for the manager transition program.

CSU has defended the six-figure payout, saying this system helps recruit high executives in a aggressive market whereas preserving institutional data after college leaders step down.

Morales introduced final 12 months that he would step down on the finish of the 2025-26 tutorial 12 months, earlier than the case was settled.

Morales collected $655,626 in wage and advantages in 2024, in keeping with Clear California.

College leaders additionally blasted the taxpayer-funded sendoff.

California College Affiliation San Bernardino chapter President Tiffany Jones known as rewarding Morales a “gorgeous failure of accountability and a direct betrayal of scholars, college, and workers.”

“At a time when campuses face finances constraints, staffing shortages, and rising pupil wants, CSU sources should not be used to offer a monetary cushion for failed management,” Jones mentioned in a information launch.

---

Obtain The California Publish App, observe us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters