Despite a $12 million legal payout tied to explosive workplace misconduct claims, outgoing Cal State San Bernardino President Tomas Morales is poised for a cushy landing.<\/p>\n
Morales remains in \u201cgood standing,\u201d making him eligible for a lucrative executive transition package<\/a> that would keep him on the university payroll before his potential return to a faculty position.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the California State University<\/a> Board of Trustees is expected to consider awarding him the honorary title of president emeritus.<\/p>\n The university has not revealed what Morales\u2019 new job will be, saying only that his position and salary will be announced during Wednesday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n Tom\u00e1s D. Morales, President of California State University, San Bernardino. csusb<\/p>\n California State University San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus building. Simone \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Morales collected $655,626 in salary and benefits in 2024, according to Transparent California.<\/p>\n The proposed sendoff comes after the California State University system agreed to pay $12 million to settle claims brought by former administrators Clare Weber and Anissa Rogers, who accused Morales and former Palm Desert campus dean Jake Zhu of fostering a workplace plagued by sexism, retaliation and bullying.<\/p>\n The university denied any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.<\/p>\n Faculty leaders, whistleblowers and the two women behind the lawsuit<\/a> have all condemned the decision, arguing Morales should not be rewarded after what they described as a \u201ccesspool of gender harassment and discrimination\u201d in their filing.<\/p>\n The university denied any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Simone \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Former Palm Desert campus dean Jake Zhu was accused of fostering a workplace plagued by sexism, retaliation and bullying. CSUSB<\/p>\n \u201cThe lawsuit raises serious questions about whether President Morales should be regarded in good standing for those benefits,\u201d Thomas Corrigan, communications coordinator for the Cal State San Bernardino chapter of the California Faculty Association, told LAist<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cDr. Rogers\u2019 and Dr. Weber\u2019s case really stands out as a moral outrage with exceptional financial, reputational and human costs.\u201d<\/p>\n The faculty union had already urged the CSU system in 2024 to deny Morales certain retirement-related benefits.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just feel that under his leadership, he has not been an effective leader, therefore, should not ultimately be rewarded,\u201d union chapter president Tiffany Jones told The Sun<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Weber and Rogers have also submitted a public comment urging trustees to scrutinize whether Morales should remain in \u201cgood standing\u201d before approving the transition package or emeritus title.<\/p>\n According to the lawsuit, Weber was fired after raising concerns about what she believed was a gender pay gap among CSU vice provosts.<\/p>\n After requesting a 12% equity raise, she said she was asked to resign and fired when she refused.<\/p>\n \u201cI explicitly raised concerns that these female Vice Provosts were being paid less because of their gender,\u201d Weber wrote in an email to Morales before her termination.<\/p>\n Rogers, then associate dean at the Palm Desert campus, said women were routinely screamed at, belittled and interrupted while men were treated with respect.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I interviewed, it was perfect,\u201d Rogers told CalMatters<\/a>. \u201cThen I quickly realized that I had just been immersed in hell.\u201d<\/p>\n She said she was later given an ultimatum.<\/p>\n Morales collected $655,626 in salary and benefits in 2024, according to Transparent California. MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI call it fired,\u201d Rogers said. \u201cThey told me, \u2018Either leave or you will be fired.’\u201d<\/p>\n The lawsuit also alleged Morales routinely berated and intimidated women and held them to harsher standards than men.<\/p>\n Criticism of Morales predates the lawsuit.<\/p>\n \u00a0A 2016 campus survey found more than 60% of employees believed conditions had worsened under his leadership, and the faculty senate later approved a vote of no confidence citing bullying, favoritism and retaliation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Morales had also faced a no-confidence vote while serving as president of the College of Staten Island before arriving at Cal State San Bernardino.<\/p>\n During testimony, Zhu defended his management style, saying, \u201cI raised voices to make a point, to change the tones, not in the malicious way or discriminatory way.\u201d<\/p>\n The legal battle ultimately split into separate proceedings.<\/p>\n Rogers won a $6 million jury award in October 2025, while Weber accepted a separate $6 million settlement before trial.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t
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