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Welcome to Flash Focus! In this series, we introduce you to fascinating student Flashes from all walks of life.

Meet Jordan Gallegos, a senior and member of the Honors College from Hudson, Ohio, who is navigating three majors and three minors.

Gallegos is collecting majors in history, Spanish and anthropology, and minors in Latin American studies, paleontology and professional and technical writing.

“I initially came to �鶹��ѡas a history major pursuing a career in higher education; specializing in teaching and researching the history of the United States and Latin America, governmental interactions, policies and environmental changes,” Gallegos told �鶹��ѡToday.

Gallegos decided to declare her other majors and minors after being encouraged by several professors and exploring different disciplines.

She has been very involved on campus, including playing the violin in the orchestra for the past three years, working as a campus tour guide and being a part of many campus organizations.

“I am currently on executive boards for the EcoJustice Order, the Spanish and Latine Student Association, the Environmental Society, and the Historical Student Society and am a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honors society on campus,” Gallegos said.  

She is also a Kupita Transciones mentor, Honors College Peer-to-Peer mentor and is involved in student government and the Digital Leadership Academy. In 2023, Gallegos began doing research for the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).

“Ann Gosky helped pair me with [Associate Professor] Dr. Matthew Crawford,” Gallegos said. “We did a variety of projects together, ranging from a historiography essay on colonial Peru for the Library of Congress for the Latin America Guide and Handbook 2023 to translating an archived Libro de Enfermos (1339-1340, from San Andres Hospital. Lima, Peru).”

Gallegos won the SURE fall research competition in 2023 and 2024 and received the Latino Networking Caucus Award for the Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 school year.

She continued to work with Crawford throughout the 2023-2024 school year, researching and translating Mercuro Peruano volumes, and its connection to transgenderism within Peru during the late 18th century, including the effect of natural disasters on hospital infrastructures.

Now, Gallegos works with Honors College Dean Alison Smith Ph.D., and Professor Emeritus Donald Palmer, Ph.D., in their Paleolimnology lab. She works on sifting soil samples, including collecting microscopic fossils and plant matter.

Gallegos took a “PigDig” class instructed by Linda Spurlock, Ph.D., where she worked with faculty and friends to create a murder mystery. Gallegos and a team of five other students worked to dig up various pigs buried in a meadow to determine what happened to each of the “victims.”

“It was one of the best hands-on learning experiences I have ever experienced,” Gallegos said. “This was, by far, the best class I have ever taken, and I highly recommend it to any anthropology majors looking for an excavation course.”

Gallegos’ involvements keep her busy most of the time but still enjoys some hobbies outside of her academic pursuits.

“My academics and extracurricular involvements tend to take up a lot of my time,” Gallegos said. “When I have the chance, I enjoy baking desserts and sourdough bread, hanging out with family and visiting different coffee shops or libraries in the local area.”

A memorable experience for Gallegos was applying to the Digital Leadership Academy, as she did not think she would get accepted but luckily was able to learn more about technical writing, constructing websites, digital accessibility and coding.

“My supervisors Alison Haynes and Doug Flower have been so helpful and understanding,” Gallegos said. “I encourage everyone to explore and apply to different programs. I had no business applying to this program, but I am so grateful I was able to get involved.”

Gallegos continues to value her time left at �鶹��ѡand is expected to graduate in May 2025. 

Are you a student interested in being featured in Flash Focus, or know a student who would make a great candidate? Send suggestions with name and contact information to kentstatetoday@kent.edu.