Kristal Castro recently joined the Penn LGBT Center as its new Associate Director (Photo from Penn LGBT Center).
The LGBT Center at Penn appointed Kristal Castro as its new associate director.
As associate director, Castro is responsible for leading the Center's programming, coordinating events with student groups and community partners and providing confidential student support. She comes into her role with five years of experience in the non-profit sector, including experience working with Spanish-speaking families in the Boston area.
Castro told The Daily Pennsylvanian that her passion for the world of education will aid her success in the role.
“I’m queer and I love the world of education, so this role makes sense for me,” Castro said. “When I reflect on my own college experience, I would have loved to have access to a center like this one and to have access to the staff in this space. I think it would have made me feel much more comfortable with my own identity.”
Castro's appointment comes after the former Associate Director Jake Muscato left the position in early June of this year to become the restorative practice facilitation specialist at Penn’s Office of Restorative Practices.
For Castro, working at the Center is her way of creating the safe space for students that she wishes she had while she was in college. Castro’s primary goal is to make the center and the center’s staff as welcoming as possible to Penn’s students by fostering partnerships across campus to create a more inclusive environment.
“To me, the LGBTQ+ community is a space of solidarity, resilience, and affirmation,” Castro said. “As a queer Afro-Latinx woman, I see this community as a vital source of support and empowerment, where individuals from diverse backgrounds can find belonging, celebrate their identities, and advocate for their rights.”
While she adjusts to her new role at Penn, Castro hopes to explore more of what Penn and Philadelphia has to offer. Looking ahead, Castro is most excited to help organize QPenn — Penn’s annual week-long LGBTQ+ cultural celebration.
Castro also emphasized her goal to keep the center a welcoming and supportive environment.
“I’m hopeful that we can preserve all of the amazing things about the LGBT Center that have helped it thrive in the last four decades. I’m also hopeful that this space can be one of solidarity and growth that matches our student’s current needs,” she said.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate
