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Three members of an embattled Fresno State Foundation resigned in the minutes and weeks following an emotional final board meeting of the year, as the nonprofit auxiliary grappled with governance changes stemming from a highly-critical review by the CSU chancellor’s office and said goodbye to long-time chairperson Vinci Ricchiuti.
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Eric Hanson, the board’s vice chair, sent university president Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval a resignation notice by email at 6:59 p.m. on June 30, shortly after the conclusion of the meeting.
Carol Chandler, according to an email sent to her by Jiménez-Sandoval, had informed the Fresno State president following the board meeting that she would resign. Jiménez-Sandoval followed up the next day, asking for a resignation in writing as required by foundation bylaws. Chandler emailed a brief resignation notice back.
George Soares also resigned, following that board meeting. The resignation notices, obtained by The Fresno Bee through a public records request, did not include correspondence between Jiménez-Sandoval and Soares, who was the most outspoken member of the board against impending governance changes including term limits for board members and officers. His resignation was confirmed through follow-up emails with foundation staff and foundation chair Chris Morse, who was nominated and elected during the June 30 board meeting.
Morse on Tuesday thanked those board members for their service. “They’re outstanding people in our community, and have done a lot for our community,” he said.
The Fresno State Foundation manages $315 million in university endowments and post-award grants and is undergoing governance and operational changes in the wake of the advisory review by the CSU, which was requested by Jiménez-Sandoval and released in January.
The review uncovered weaknesses in the foundation’s governance and financial control environment that increased its exposure to financial misstatements and fraud, though no malfeasance was found by CSU Audit and Advisory Services.
The review concluded that the foundation has 46 areas in need of remediation including board governance, endowment management and organizational structure. It has completed 20, according to its website.
“We’re looking forward to what we can do to help Fresno State University, not only just clearing the whole chancellor’s office report, but going back to what this board is supposed to do and raise awareness for Fresno State, raise some funds for Fresno State, and the students and faculty can go forward from there,” Morse said.
Jiménez-Sandoval was not available to comment on the resignations, but in an email exchange with Chandler thanked her for her years of service. Hanson served on the board of governors for 17 years, Chandler for 13 and Soares for 11, according to the university.
“I am very sorry that you have decided to step off the Board, but understand your reasons,” he wrote, to Chandler.
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“As President and your friend, I want to thank you for your 13 years of service on the Board and the perspective you provided having been a CSU Trustee. I look forward to seeing you at university events in the future. Please know that I appreciate you deeply.”
Her response was brief: “Thank you for your kind words. It is time for me to resign from the Board of Governors. I have enjoyed my time on the board and hope that I have been able to contribute to the accomplishments of the Board. I wish you and Fresno State all the best. Please call on me if I can be of any help in the future.”
Hanson in his notice thanked Jiménez-Sandoval and his predecessors, and recapped a career as the Bulldogs’ team physician, which, he said, “enriched and defined my career.”
“Times have changed,” Hanson wrote. “It is clear to me that my services, resources and expertise are no longer sought after. I feel that I have overstayed my welcome.
“You face daunting challenges in the times ahead from the Chancellor’s Office … it will be difficult to put together a new Board of Governors that is as dedicated, experienced, and generous with their time, talent and resources as your current board is. Fresno State has clearly engaged the finest group of volunteer leaders and philanthropists that our region can offer.
“It is my sincere hope that the ‘bad taste’ perceived by the departing Board of Governors is of short duration and minimal impact to the University and the Comprehensive Campaign. I truly wish the best for Fresno State and will continue to be an advocate and fan of the university.”
The board of governors is to include no more than 38 members and no fewer than 15, according to foundation bylaws. It had 24 including Jiménez-Sandoval as an ex-officio member before Ricchiuti and four others long-time board members termed out at the end of the 2026 fiscal year.
Ricchiuti had served on the board for 32 years, the past 10 as its chair.
The foundation had eliminated term limits in 2022, but prior to that its bylaws, though loosely enforced, stated members could serve two consecutive, four-year terms with an option to serve again after a one-year absence.
The other four board members to term out at the end of 2026 also had long tenures — Claude Laval III served for 30 years, Richard Spencer for 23 Kyle Stephenson for 19 years and Nat DiBuduo for 16.
This story was originally published July 29, 2026 at 5:38 AM with the headline “After shakeup, Fresno State Foundation hit by resignations. ‘I have overstayed my welcome’.”
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