A vision of service led Jess Kimball to become a doula, then to pursue her law degree

When you first meet Jess, you might notice the excitement she has for the mini cows, pigs, ducks, and turkeys that make up her homestead. A deeper conversation reveals her passion for exploring the stories of women homesteaders and the intellectual curiosity that led her to pursue a law degree from Vermont Law and Graduate School, where she’s currently enrolled.

Her path has been anything but linear. Jess graduated from high school at 16, certification as a birth and postpartum doula in hand. She traveled as far as France and Hawaii for her work and assumed that a traditional college degree wasn’t in her future.

She grew up with six siblings and the message at home was clear: education was something you navigated on your own.

"One of the biggest barriers for me mentally was figuring that out," she recalls. "I felt like maybe I didn't need to do it, but also that I couldn’t do it because I’d have to take out loans."

“Figuring out” higher education

After working for several years as a doula, Jess settled in the Upper Valley to be closer to her family. She began taking a few classes at the Community College of Vermont (CCV) to satisfy the requirements for a midwifery apprenticeship program that caught her eye. As she began looking into college, she started meeting with Ran Wang, an outreach counselor with VSAC’s Educational Opportunity Center, which helps adults access career and training services. Ran provided Jess with resources and with the guidance she needed.

"Ran was so amazing. I would send her an email and she would always lead with 'yes' and then help me figure it out," Jess says. With Ran’s help, Jess applied for and received an Advancement Grant, 802Opportunity, and a Curtis Credential of Value scholarship.

Jess was living independently, but was struggling to get independent student status, which would unlock Federal Pell grants and other support for her education. Ran helped, and Jess eventually qualified for the financial aid she needed to pursue her degrees. 

With financial aid, Jess was able to earn her associate degree in behavioral science from CCV and her bachelor’s in psychology from Vermont State University (VTSU) debt free.

"It was so freeing,” she shares. “And I was able to think about what I wanted to do if I could pick anything. The removal of that burden and being able to graduate from undergrad without debt made it possible for me to think about graduate school. Because of that, I was able to think more clearly without the money part of it holding me back."

Dreaming bigger

With the mental barrier of "how to pay for it" removed, Jess started thinking about law school. She’d always been interested, but the idea of figuring out college and then an advanced degree had been intimidating and unreachable. Yet, after achieving her bachelor's degree, it began to feel possible.

Before diving into a Juris Doctor (JD) program, Jess tested herself with a professional certificate in restorative justice at Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS). She was successful, and felt more confident preparing for the LSAT, and the rigors of law school.

Her diligent efforts have paid off and today she is enrolled in the online hybrid JD program at VLGS. And, because of her academic success in both her undergraduate years and the restorative justice certificate, Jess earned a significant scholarship to support her pursuit of a law degree.

A new season

Jess was always interested in farming and homesteading. She followed a "string being tugged" and bought a property in North Carolina, where she now cares for a multitude of animals with her partner, Hugo. Jess also maintains her connection to Vermont, while she finishes her JD online.

In addition, she works as a project manager for a rural health program at a local hospital, focusing on family medicine and perinatal mood disorders. She still has a tremendous passion for birth and provides doula services, but she’s doing less of that these days as she juggles the many facets of her life.

Jess is one for following the tug of passion. Her homesteading experiences led her to write and photograph a book, She Can Hold Her Own, which profiles 21 women across Southern Appalachia who are reclaiming traditional skills in homesteading.

"I really thought it would be just stories of these strong and powerful women, but it also touched on what a partnership looks like," she says, noting how Hugo helps manage the animals so she can focus on her studies.

Closing the justice gap

Alongside Jess’s own passion projects, her legal aspirations have evolved. While she remains interested in maternal health policy, life among the farmworker community in North Carolina has opened her eyes to new needs.

"My community has a high percentage of migrant farm workers," she explains. "When you don't have reliable transportation or you face other barriers, it's hard to find a lawyer. I see there’s a need in the community I could potentially meet."

Whether she eventually focuses on immigration law, environmental law, or food policy is still to be determined. But Jess remains an advocate for the support systems that influenced her own path. "Vermont opened up doors for me. Learning about the funding to support people continuing their education—it was such a blessing."