Latest news with #LongBeachCityCollege
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE ANNOUNCES NEW ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN URBAN PLANNING
LBCC is the First in the State to Offer this Degree Long Beach, CA, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nearly one year ago, Long Beach City College (LBCC) launched the first Urban Planning associate degree in the California Community Colleges system, through a new partnership with Cal Poly Pomona. 'Our new Associate Degree in Urban Planning reflects Long Beach City College's commitment to shaping equitable and sustainable communities,' said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, Long Beach City College Board of Trustees President. 'By equipping students with the modern tools to address land use, climate resiliency, and urban revitalization, we're preparing the next generation of leaders to design better cities of the future.' 'Our new Urban Planning program underscores how LBCC is a college where lives are transformed and students are uplifted, as urban and regional planners in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Orange County metropolitan area are earning an average salary of more than $111,000 annually,' said Dr. Mike Muñoz, Long Beach City College Superintendent-President. 'Graduates from widely diverse backgrounds will be equipped to contribute to sustainable and resilient community planning and are literally building the future.' The program was developed in consultation with the Long Beach Community Design Center, a non-profit comprised of leading area urban planners, architects, and representatives from Cal Poly Pomona. The new curriculum focuses on the skills needed for entry-level roles in planning agencies or consultancies. Those completing the program will have a solid foundation in urban design skills, land use planning, and government policy-making while learning to tackle planning challenges using industry-standard GIS software and understand the socioeconomic aspects of urban development. Among the required courses are Urban Dynamics – American Cities; Urbanscapes & Cultures; Research Methodologies for Design; Intro to Geographic Information Systems; and Urban Design Studies. As part of the new degree pathway, the Urban Planning & Design Internship Program was also launched by the Long Beach Community Design and the City of Long Beach to give students real-world experience in shaping the built environment. Through curated activities, events, and project-based experiences, students engage with professionals in the field, gain insight into urban planning best practices and techniques, build industry-relevant skills, and form meaningful mentorship connections. Interns were hosted across the private sector, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of urban planning and design work. The first cohort included 10 undergraduate students from LBCC, CSU Long Beach, UCLA, UC Irvine, and Cal Poly Pomona, majoring in architecture, urban planning, urban studies, environmental science, geography, and civil engineering. David Salazar, Long Beach Community Design Center's founder and executive director, was among those whose efforts were paramount in developing the new program. 'The ground-breaking Associate of Science Degree in Urban Planning at LBCC, along with a pathway to Cal Poly Pomona, is an exceptional opportunity for the youth of Long Beach to pursue a career in a field that can improve the quality of life in their communities,' Salazar said. 'This unique partnership provides young planners with a clear path to establishing a successful career in urban planning, where their voice and perspective are vital.' Dr. Leslie Forehand, an LBCC architecture professor who played a key role in developing the program, agreed. 'This achievement not only elevates our students' academic journeys but also ensures that our community is shaped by the very minds we nurture,' she said. 'It's a significant step towards a future where our community's growth and planning are driven by its own educated, empowered members.' Dr. Gwen H. Urey, emeritus professor at Cal Poly Pomona's Department of Urban and Regional Planning added, 'LBCC's new Associate of Science Degree in Urban Planning degree is a model for planning education at the community college level. The Department of Urban & Regional Planning at Cal Poly Pomona celebrates this achievement and anticipates welcoming its graduates into our accredited Bachelor of Science program, which they will be able to complete in two years.' The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 3,700 openings nationally for urban and regional planners each year, on average, over the decade, with many of those openings expected to replace those who retire or transfer to other occupations. More than 2,000 of the nearly 43,000 urban and regional planners working in the United States are employed in the region. # # # About Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach City College consists of two campuses with an enrollment of over 35,000 students each semester and serves the cities of Avalon, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Signal Hill. LBCC promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high-quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities. Visit for more information about Long Beach City College. CONTACT: Stacey Toda Long Beach City College 5629384004 stoda@
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff continues -- Josh Fatu in focus
USC football countdown to kickoff continues -- Josh Fatu in focus There's a number attached to many different Trojans in history. Today's USC player: Josh Fatu. The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 98 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. The options for number 98 are fairly limited, but today, we will be looking back at Josh Fatu. Position: Defensive lineman Years played at USC: 2016-2017. Career highlights: Fatu spent the first two years of his college career at Long Beach City College, before transferring to USC in 2016. After mostly serving in a reserve role in his first year on campus, Fatu took on a bigger role as a senior in 2017. That year, he recorded 34 tackles, six sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass defended. He was named all-Pac-12 honorable mention. After USC: Fatu signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft. However, he did not make the roster, and never played a snap in the league.
Business Upturn
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE PROFESSOR RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP
Long Beach, CA, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Long Beach City College (LBCC) Visual & Media Arts Co-Department Head and Professor of Drawing and Painting, Carolyn Castaño, has been awarded the highly prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship for 2025, which marks the program's 100th anniversary year. She was recognized in the field of Fine Arts for her prior exceptional achievements as well as her future promise. 'This recognition is a powerful reminder of the caliber of faculty we are fortunate to have at Long Beach City College,' said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, LBCC Board of Trustees President. 'Professor Castaño's selection as a Guggenheim Fellow reflects the high level of talent, dedication, and scholarly excellence within our teaching ranks. Her achievements demonstrate what's possible at a community college and shine a national spotlight on the incredible work at LBCC.' 'It's not often that a community college faculty member receives this kind of national recognition, and that's exactly why Professor Castaño's Guggenheim Fellowship is so meaningful for our students,' said Dr. Mike Muñoz, LBCC Superintendent-President. 'Her achievement sends a powerful message that excellence knows no boundaries — and that students at Long Beach City College are learning from some of the most talented, visionary educators in the country.' First awarded in 1925, Guggenheim Fellowships offer support to exceptional individuals in pursuit of scholarship in any field of knowledge and creation in any art form. Each Fellow receives a monetary stipend up to $90,000 to pursue independent work at the highest level under the freest possible conditions. This 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows includes 198 distinguished individuals working across 53 disciplines, chosen through a rigorous application and peer review process from a pool of nearly 3,500 applicants. Professor Castaño was one of just 32 recipients awarded in Fine Arts. 'I'm very honored to have received the 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship Award and thrilled to be in the company of my thoughtful and talented colleagues in the arts,' said Professor Castaño. 'I'm looking forward to bringing the fruits of my research and the subsequent work to my Long Beach City College students, who continue to inspire me to stretch as an artist and a teacher.' Professor Castaño is a Colombian-American visual artist based in Los Angeles whose practice focuses on painting, drawing, video, and mixed-media installations with themes and images originating in Latin and South America. Her work, exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally, uses eco-feminist frameworks in painting, installation, video, and artist books to explore the landscape, migration, female and family identities in works that juxtapose drawing, photography, and performance with patterns found in textiles, design, and geometric abstraction. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute and a Master's in Fine Arts from the UCLA School of Art and Architecture. She became a full-time instructor for LBCC in 2015. In addition to this fellowship, Professor Castaño is also the recipient of the 2013 Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant in Painting and Drawing, the 2011 California Community Foundation Getty Fellow Mid-Career Grant, and the 2011 C.O.L.A.-City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship. To learn more about the Guggenheim Foundation and to see the full list of 2025 Fellows, please visit # # # About Long Beach City College Long Beach City College consists of two campuses with an enrollment of more than 35,000 students each semester. The education program's primary purpose is to prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate-granting institutions, entry into work or career development, and to support businesses in economic development. Long Beach City College serves the cities of Avalon, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Signal Hill. Long Beach City College promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high-quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities. Visit for more information on Long Beach City College. Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE PROFESSOR RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP
Professor Carolyn Castaño Joins the 2025 Centennial Class of Fine Arts Fellows Carolyn Castaño Long Beach, CA, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Long Beach City College (LBCC) Visual & Media Arts Co-Department Head and Professor of Drawing and Painting, Carolyn Castaño, has been awarded the highly prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship for 2025, which marks the program's 100th anniversary year. She was recognized in the field of Fine Arts for her prior exceptional achievements as well as her future promise. 'This recognition is a powerful reminder of the caliber of faculty we are fortunate to have at Long Beach City College,' said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, LBCC Board of Trustees President. 'Professor Castaño's selection as a Guggenheim Fellow reflects the high level of talent, dedication, and scholarly excellence within our teaching ranks. Her achievements demonstrate what's possible at a community college and shine a national spotlight on the incredible work at LBCC.' 'It's not often that a community college faculty member receives this kind of national recognition, and that's exactly why Professor Castaño's Guggenheim Fellowship is so meaningful for our students,' said Dr. Mike Muñoz, LBCC Superintendent-President. 'Her achievement sends a powerful message that excellence knows no boundaries — and that students at Long Beach City College are learning from some of the most talented, visionary educators in the country.' First awarded in 1925, Guggenheim Fellowships offer support to exceptional individuals in pursuit of scholarship in any field of knowledge and creation in any art form. Each Fellow receives a monetary stipend up to $90,000 to pursue independent work at the highest level under the freest possible conditions. This 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows includes 198 distinguished individuals working across 53 disciplines, chosen through a rigorous application and peer review process from a pool of nearly 3,500 applicants. Professor Castaño was one of just 32 recipients awarded in Fine Arts. 'I'm very honored to have received the 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship Award and thrilled to be in the company of my thoughtful and talented colleagues in the arts,' said Professor Castaño. 'I'm looking forward to bringing the fruits of my research and the subsequent work to my Long Beach City College students, who continue to inspire me to stretch as an artist and a teacher.' Professor Castaño is a Colombian-American visual artist based in Los Angeles whose practice focuses on painting, drawing, video, and mixed-media installations with themes and images originating in Latin and South America. Her work, exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally, uses eco-feminist frameworks in painting, installation, video, and artist books to explore the landscape, migration, female and family identities in works that juxtapose drawing, photography, and performance with patterns found in textiles, design, and geometric abstraction. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute and a Master's in Fine Arts from the UCLA School of Art and Architecture. She became a full-time instructor for LBCC in 2015. In addition to this fellowship, Professor Castaño is also the recipient of the 2013 Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant in Painting and Drawing, the 2011 California Community Foundation Getty Fellow Mid-Career Grant, and the 2011 C.O.L.A.-City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship. To learn more about the Guggenheim Foundation and to see the full list of 2025 Fellows, please visit # # # About Long Beach City College Long Beach City College consists of two campuses with an enrollment of more than 35,000 students each semester. The education program's primary purpose is to prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate-granting institutions, entry into work or career development, and to support businesses in economic development. Long Beach City College serves the cities of Avalon, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Signal Hill. Long Beach City College promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high-quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities. Visit for more information on Long Beach City College. Attachment Carolyn Castaño CONTACT: Stacey Toda Long Beach City College 5629384004 stoda@ in to access your portfolio
Chicago Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Matt Pennala, an All-American, almost gives up volleyball before leading St. Xavier to national runner-up finish
For a while, Matt Pennala didn't listen to overtures from St. Xavier coach Tom Ryan. In 2018, Pennala graduated from high school in Long Beach City, California. But after playing for Long Beach City College in 2023, he didn't see the wisdom of continuing with volleyball. Then Ryan came calling. 'I pretty much ignored him,' Pennala said of Ryan. 'At the time, I just wanted to get my associate's degree. I just wanted a piece of paper with some education on it.' Three weeks later, Ryan texted Pennala again. And this time, Pennala had a change of heart. Two years later, Pennala is the NAIA's player of the year to go with being an All-American and the Chicagoland Catholic Athletic Conference's player of the year after helping the Cougars finish second in the nation with a runner-up finish in the NAIA Tournament. The 6-foot-4 senior right-side hitter/setter, who finished the season with 395 kills, 143 digs, 131 assists and 72 blocks, also helped St. Xavier reach the national semifinals in 2024. All of this wouldn't have happened if Ryan, an Oak Forest grad, didn't follow up with Pennala. Pennala, a communications major, had a roller-coaster relationship with volleyball. He was at a point in his life where he was unclear about his future when Ryan first contacted him. 'I don't know … I was more preoccupied with finishing my degree and my education because I was really struggling with that,' Pennala said. 'That's where my mindset was. 'I didn't really have much drive for anything, and that included volleyball.' But Ryan's second attempt actually got Pennala thinking. 'It took me a little for me to realize volleyball could be a way to pursue my degree,' Pennala said. 'It was that persistence from coach that made me think maybe I still had something to offer. 'That was the point where I realized a scholarship for sports would allow me to financially pursue my bachelor's degree.' After a heart-to-heart talk with his parents, Pennala made the decision to come to Chicago. He will likely stay here for a bit, looking for living quarters near the campus for the summer to work on his game with the team. He has a graduate year of eligibility remaining that he plans on taking. The Cougars finished with a 31-1 record this spring after a 28-26, 25-23, 18-25, 25-19 loss to The Master's in the national championship match at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Now, Pennala and his teammates have their eyes on the top prize. Teammates Andres Velez and Caydann Cox joined Pennala in earning first team All-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Cameron Daniels and Drew Ehlers made the second team. Only Ehlers will be moving on from that group. 'We have a real shot to be back in that match next year,' Ryan said of the national final. 'And we will have a real shot to win it.' For those playing the game of 'what if,' St. Xavier might have brought home a national title if the Cougars had closed out the first game. They held a 24-21 advantage but lost 28-26. 'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, I've been telling everyone that if we win the first set, we win the match,' Pennala said. 'I don't even know what happened at the end of that. But it happens. A few slipups here and there. 'But I'm super proud of the guys, and I know we all played well.' Ryan, the NAIA's coach of the year, looked back on that time when he received radio silence from Pennala. He's glad he stuck with trying to bring him to St. Xavier. 'Yeah, he's a good one — a really good one,' Ryan said of Pennala. 'I thought he was good enough to do this. It was pretty clear that he was ultra confident, and I'm not surprised to see the level of success he had.'
