The Fresno State Foundation Board of Governors selected Chris Morse last week to be the new board chair, according to a campus-wide email from Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval sent Tuesday afternoon. 

A non-profit, the Fresno State Foundation manages roughly $315 million in grants and donations for the university. The foundation has made recent headlines regarding the California State University’s review of its 2024 fiscal year. The review cited 46 areas in need of action.

“In general, we found significant weaknesses in the foundation’s governance and financial control environment that heightened exposure to financial misstatement, fraud and operational inefficiencies,” the review says. 

The review also found some areas of governance problematic, including limited board and leadership turnover, minimal university representation and outdated governing documents.

In the email, Jiménez-Sandoval said the university has completed 22 of the 46 recommended changes so far, and expressed excitement about expanding the foundation’s mission alongside Morse.

“I have had the privilege of working alongside Chris for many years, and I am excited to partner with him as we continue strengthening one of our university’s greatest assets,” Jiménez-Sandoval said.

Morse is a Fresno State alumnus and serves as the managing partner of the Fresno office of Baker Tilly, the largest accounting and advisory firm in Central California, according to the email. 

“His community leadership is outstanding, having previously served as president and treasurer of the State Center Community College Foundation and currently serving on the board of the Central Valley Community Foundation,” Jiménez-Sandoval said. 

Morse is succeeding Vinci Ricchiuti, the previously standing chair. Jiménez-Sandoval also encouraged campus community members to visit the foundation’s website to view the process of implementation. 

Incoming Campus News Editor Clare Carlson contributed to the reporting of this story.