Psychology student Jess Kimball ‘24 just published an academic paper in the peer-reviewed Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health (37) 3, Fall 2023. Jess’s paper explores the use of the Midwife Model to reduce maternal mortality, a topic she researched for an Intro to Research Methods class during coursework at CCV in June 2022.
Although just 22 years old, Jess already has a strong background in the field: She became a doula with a focus on post-partum maternal care right out of high school at age 16, and holds a PMH-C from Postpartum Support International.
Jess had registered at CCV to take a few classes required for her work as an assistant in a midwifery practice. She didn’t intend to enroll in a degree program, but she did well in her classes and just kept going! After earning an associate degree in Psychology online with CCV, she transferred to Vermont State to complete her bachelor’s in Psychology also online, and will complete her studies in August 2024.
“Through college I realized I could do more than I ever thought!” Jess said. She’s already thinking ahead to earning a doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis on perinatal mental health, or entering law school — or both! About the publication, she says, “I’m really excited about it and hope to publish more of my writing!”
Besides her studies, Jess runs Kimball Wellness Association, a non-profit she founded that provides prenatal and postpartum support to families and is also the managing director of programs for the Global Foundation for Girls.
