(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) — Crowley Maritime Corp. and the University of North Florida (UNF) announced on June 24 that Crowley has donated $2.5 million as an endowment gift for the creation and operation of the Crowley Center for Transportation and Logistics (CCTL). The center will reside in UNF’s Coggin College of Business and utilize interdisciplinary faculty expertise from across the university.
The company’s $2.5 million donation to UNF establishes a landmark commitment to the growth and development of talented students to be innovative leaders in transportation and logistics, and faculty researchers leading data analytics.
“This donation represents a strategic investment in our industry’s future – the talent and knowledge our leaders of tomorrow and the research needed to propel our industry forward successfully,” said Tom Crowley, the company’s chairman and CEO. “We are humbled to be able to play a role in supporting the advancement of researchers, students and their careers in transportation and logistics. The University of North Florida, a dynamic leader in education in one of the global hubs of logistics services, is the rightful home to our new center.”
The center is designed to be a world leader in transportation and logistics research, education and industry engagement. The endowment will help fund CCTL operations and leadership, faculty support, visiting scholars, pertinent industry research, pursuit of federally funded grants and contracts, student recruitment in the areas of transportation, logistics and data analytics, and course development.
“UNF is extremely appreciative of this generous gift by Crowley to establish a distinguished center of transportation and logistics research and education that will foster a collaborative environment of continued logistical growth, development and innovation,” said UNF President David Szymanski. “Our partnership and alliance with Crowley will allow UNF’s Coggin College of Business and the Crowley Center for Transportation and Logistics to be at the forefront of cutting-edge education and research and help prepare our students with skills for the workforce.”
– Crowley Maritime Corp.