The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities established the HACU Hall of Champions to honor those who embody the mission of the Association through exemplary efforts “To Champion Hispanic Success in Higher Education.” The 2020 HACU Hall of Champions inductees were Timothy P. White Ph.D., and Chancellor Joe Garcia, who were honored on October 26, 2020, during HACU’s 34th Annual Conference.
Timothy P. White served as chancellor of the California State University, leading a 23-campus university system. He led the CSU in implementing Graduation Initiative 2025, a systemwide plan to increase graduation rates, decrease time to degree, eliminate equity and opportunity gaps for students, and added thousands of classes across the system.
Under White’s leadership, the CSU expanded its impact within Hispanic communities in California and nationwide. He spearheaded efforts to increase awareness of federal Title IX rights, sexual assault prevention, and alcohol abuse on campus. He also worked with CSU partners across the state to increase public investment in the university.
Prior to becoming chancellor in 2013, White served as chancellor and professor of biology and biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside. He joined UC Riverside in 2008 after serving as president of the University of Idaho from 2004 to 2008 and as dean, provost, executive vice president, and interim president at Oregon State University from 1996 to 2004. He was the first in his family to attend college and earn a degree.
White received a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Fresno, a master’s degree at Cal State Hayward and a doctoral degree from UC Berkeley.
