Graduating from UC Berkeley, the nation’s top public university, is a great achievement on its own. But for Jessica Gallup, it marks something more: the culmination of a journey defined by resilience, reinvention and the daily demands of motherhood.
A mother of a 6-year-old daughter — and seven months pregnant with her second child — Gallup will earn her bachelor’s degree in anthropology this semester, finishing what she began two decades ago. Along the way, the 42-year-old senior balanced coursework with childcare, doctor’s appointments and the unpredictability of family life, all while redefining her path and purpose in anthropology.
Now, as she prepares for graduation this month, Gallup is also preparing for what comes next. She plans to take a year to focus on her growing family before returning to pursue a Ph.D. in anthropology — continuing a journey that, for her, is far from over.
“I’ve been inspired by Jessica,” Berkeley Anthropology Professor Charlotte Williams said. “She's been juggling hospital appointments, childcare and her schoolwork and always comes to class with the ability to laugh. She’s graduating this year and has lots of reasons to celebrate."
Jessica spoke to Berkeley Social Sciences recently about her academic journey, experience with motherhood as a college student and plans for the future. The interview is edited for clarity.
Tell us about your background and why you chose UC Berkeley.
Jessica Gallup: I’m originally from Oahu, Hawaii, but I have family in the Bay Area. I moved here for work and didn't want to leave the area, so I applied to schools across California, with Berkeley as my top choice. I had heard great things about Berkeley’s Anthropology Department from my junior college professors.
Tell us about your Anthropology major. Why did you decide to pursue it?
Jessica Gallup: Being born and raised in Hawaii, I've always been interested in anthropology. So much of the culture there is rooted in anthropological history, and the islands also gave me the opportunity to explore my interest in archeology. As an undergraduate, I focused on archeology, but in the long term, I hope to transition into forensics.
How has being a mother shaped the way you approach your education?
Jessica Gallup: When I went back to school, it was during COVID-19. My eldest daughter had just been born, and I was home, furloughed from my job. I had worked as a corporate events coordinator for years, but I didn’t love it. It knew I didn’t have a passion for that career.
During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to complete junior college remotely. Through those classes, I realized I was a completely different student than I had been 20 years earlier.
I wasn't necessarily trying to do better, because I felt like I was already providing well for my daughter. I just wanted to be happy, and I wasn't happy in my career path. I didn't want my daughter to grow up watching her mom go to work every day and hate it. Having a child pushes you to do your best, because you want the best for them. When I had my daughter, my mindset totally changed – it was like night and day. I had the motivation I needed to pursue an education, unlike before.
How have you been able to apply what you’ve learned in college to motherhood?
Jessica Gallup: It felt like two worlds collided perfectly. I remember one moment when my daughter was about two years old. She was in a play school where she was learning about dinosaurs, and at the same time, I was taking a junior college class on dinosaurs. She would come home and tell me what she learned, and I would share what I learned, too.
More broadly, studying anthropology has helped me shape how I want to raise my daughter. It’s influenced the way I teach her and how I want her to learn.
What does graduation from UC Berkeley mean to you?
Jessica Gallup: For me, this is a major milestone. I am finishing something I started 20 years ago. Both of my parents passed away when I was young, and college was very important to them, so I’ve always had them in the back of my mind, along with my kids, motivating me to finish. It’s also about opening more doors for the future.
What are your plans after graduation?
Jessica Gallup: I'm actually having another baby. I'm seven months pregnant with another girl, so I’m going to take a year off. I had started applying to graduate and Ph.D. programs, but then found out I was pregnant, so I decided to pause that process. This coming fall, I'll start reapplying to programs.
I definitely am not quitting. When I went back to school, I told myself I would take it all the way. I plan to get my PhD in anthropology to become a professor or teach in some capacity.