CITT News

Meet CITT Research Associate Jenny Benitez, a recent CSULB graduate in Economics, and PSR Outstanding Undergraduate Student of the Year. The Pacific Southwest Region (PSR) University Transportation Center (UTC) is the Region 9 UTC funded under the US Department of Transportation’s University Transportation Centers Program. The PSR UTC supports research, education, and technology transfer with the aim of improving the mobility of people and goods throughout the region.

Benitez has been a team player at CITT since she joined the team as a research assistant, contributing to multiple projects. Apart from carrying out research tasks, including conducting interviews that are part of CITT’s research, she is also responsible for editorial tasks, and works on literature reviews and white papers. Benitez is also a staff writer for the CITT and METRANS Newsletters, where she writes articles on research highlights from PSR-sponsored and other institutions’ researchers, making the research accessible to various audiences. “I can see myself working in analytics—especially in a role that combines creativity and a quantitative approach," she said. "Other than that, I’m excited to work on some personal projects and hobbies—I’m currently sharpening my tech and programming skills with Python, HTML, CSS, and SQL.”

While working at CITT during times of visible supply chain disruption in 2020 and 2021, Benitez picked up an interest in the transportation sector, especially with a focus on automation and zero-emission technologies in the ports of Southern California. She is currently contributing to projects involving workforce development, automation, and inland waterways. Her favorite projects center around economics, sustainability, transportation, and logistics. 

Benitez is also an IANA Scholar, a recognition by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA)that allowed her to take classes in CITT’s Global Logistic Professional program and to conduct a research project of her choosing. In her IANA-sponsored white paper, “The Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chain, Transportation, and Logistics Education: Challenges and Opportunities in Teaching Intermodalism,” Benitez focused on how the pandemic impacted postsecondary education programs related to supply chain and logistics. While working on the white paper, she interviewed deans and professors from programs across the country and learned a great deal about how the pandemic impacted higher education in logistics and transportation. 

While Jenny Benitez has made a powerful impact at CITT as a Research Associate, her time at the center is coming to an end. Recently, Benitez has accepted a position at RPG, where she looks forward to researching affordable housing and economic development in California. CITT wishes her all the best in her exciting future!