Kaitlyn Custer ’15 Awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Argentina

Kaitlyn Custer ’15, a Hispanic studies major, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Argentina.
 
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant programs place grantees in schools overseas to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in the classrooms.

For the last two years, Custer has been teaching comprehensive sex education in middle and high schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was originally drawn to the work from a public health perspective and thought she’d later pursue a master’s degree in public health. However, her work in education revealed a passion for teaching.

“I've developed a deep love of teaching, [so now] I’m thinking of pursuing a career as an educator,” says Custer. “To test [this theory]...and to learn from others who are deeply dedicated to education, I applied for this Fulbright.”

Custer chose the Fulbright assistantship in Argentina because the program is located inside teacher training institutes, which allows her to interact with numerous educators. “I look forward to being able to collaborate with and learn from others who have chosen education as their career paths,” says Custer.  

During the fellowship, Custer hopes to foster relationships and learn from the teachers with whom she works. She also wants to “gain a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of what it means to be a humble and effective educator.” Outside of the classroom, she plans to pursue work in reproductive justice, possibly at a local clinic.

While at Oberlin, Custer worked at the Wilder Hall information desk and the Sexual Information Center. She also volunteered as an HIV peer tester and was the co-creator of Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct (PRSM).

Upon her return from Argentina, Custer plans to attend graduate school for a master’s in education.