Interview with Susan Potter Evangelista, April 23, 2021

Interview Summary

Susan Potter Evangelista served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines, from 1963 to 1965. Susan attended Swarthmore College during the Kennedy presidency, at a time of intensive civil rights activity. She applied to Peace Corps and was accepted for Philippines Group 10. Training in language, culture, teaching, and physical conditioning were conducted in Hilo, Hawaii. Susan was assigned to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, where she taught English, Science, and Math at the pilot elementary school. In her second year, Susan moved to Zamboanga, Mindanao, and taught English in a special project in the National High School. During summers she worked at the Culion Leprasarium in Culion, Palawan. After completing Peace Corps service, Susan attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. She later returned to the Philippines, where she taught at the Ateneo de Manila for 30 years. She now lives in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The interview discusses her training, service, life in the Philippines, and reflections on Peace Corps service.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Philippines (country of service) Philippines 1963-1965 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Peace Corps (U.S.)--1960-1970 Tagalog (language) Philippines 10 Swarthmore College Hilo, Hawaii San Jose, Mindoro Zamboanga Mindanao Culion Culion Leprasarium

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