Alumni Spotlight - Mercedes Gallup '85

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT - MERCEDES GALLUP '85 

Mercedes Gallup '85, BSN, RN-BC graduated with honors with a BS in Nursing from CSU, Bakersfield. With a Board Certification in College Health Nursing, she is currently working as a Nursing Supervisor at the Klotz Student Health Center at CSU, Northridge. Active in the field of College health, she is currently serving as the President of the California College Health Nurses Association and hopes to pursue a Masters in Public Health in the future. In addition to a full time nursing career, Mercedes is also a professional trapeze artist. She has worked in both TV and film, and most recently, performed flying and bungee trapeze with the touring Circus Vargas. Mercedes resides in Northridge, California with her daughter, Koyaana, who is a Fashion Design student at CSU, Northridge.

What is it you most enjoy about nursing?

I love my job! I enjoy working with college students, helping to educate them about their own health care practices and health care decisions.

How old were you when you decided to be a trapeze artist?

I have wanted to try flying trapeze since I was young but did not get the chance until 10 years ago when I stumbled upon Gaonas Trapeze Workshop in Woodland Hills and took my first class. I quickly became passionate about flying and dreamed of being a circus performer. To have realized that dream has been truly an amazing process!

How do you balance your time between nursing, trapeze, and family?

I have the best of both worlds! I think if you really love what you do, it balances itself. I designed my nursing career around my love of trapeze, and my work has been extremely supportive of all my trapeze related endeavors. My daughter is now a college student and is extremely proud of my accomplishments. It helps, too, that my boyfriend has also been my trapeze coach for 10 years. It's all circus all the time!

What is your favorite memory of Cate?

I have to say, my most favorite Cate memories include watching some really extraordinary sunsets off the mesa. Some of the best I've ever seen.