Tom O’Brien (second from right), Associate Dean of CSULB’s College of Professional and Continuing Education, accepted the award on behalf of CSULB, CPaCE, and the CITT. Pictured from left to right: Constantine Tarawneh (UT Rio Grande Valley), Carita Ducre (APTA), Yinhai Wang (UW). 

The Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) received the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) Workforce Development Leadership Award for contributions to high school pathway programs in partnership with the Port of Long Beach (POLB) and Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). The award, which is also sponsored by the American Public Transit Association, was announced on January 10, 2026, in Washington, D.C during the 2026 CUTC Awards Ceremony

The award is given annually to an institution that demonstrates outstanding leadership in designing and delivering workforce development programs. Over the last decade, CITT has developed innovative and impactful high school pathways in close partnership with the Port, which fully funds three LBUSD high school pathways.

The Academy of Global Logistics (AGL) at Cabrillo High School was the flagship pathway partnership launched in 2016 at Cabrillo High School with the goals of providing students with real-world experience and technical training, building STEM skills, and expanding students’ awareness of port and logistics careers. With the support of CITT and the Port of Long Beach, AGL students have toured marine terminals and attended the International Urban Freight (I-NUF) conference, standing toe-to-toe with premier global logistics and transportation professionals. In just the first four years of its implementation, Cabrillo High School nearly doubled the percentage of students with 100% attendance, raised the percentage of AP enrollment by 14 percentage points, and raised graduation rates from 89% to 93%.

Last year, CITT entered into a new contract with the Port to support two additional pathways in addition to AGL: the Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) Academy at Jordan High School, and the new Next-Gen Opportunities in Vehicles and Alternative Energy (NOVA) program at Long Beach Polytechnic High School.

“This prestigious award would not be possible without the support of the Long Beach Unified School District and the Port of Long Beach, whose innovation and foresight in creating first AGL and later ACE and NOVA are bringing students opportunities to learn about some of the largest and most complex economic engines in the Southern California economy,” said CITT Executive Director Tyler Reeb. “We’re proud to accept this award on behalf of CSULB’s College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) and the thousands of students who benefit from these pathways.”

“We are building the port of the future and investing in the workforce of tomorrow by introducing students to life-forming careers in the many fields associated with goods movement and international trade,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. “We strengthen our port by helping to develop the homegrown workforce we need to remain competitive, and we want our students to have an opportunity to be a part of that future.”