Evan Wooldridge joined more than 8,500 UW-Madison seniors in the Kohl Center and Camp Randall when he graduated in May of 2024. In the same month, Wooldridge was selected as a recipient of the Tom Shick Award, an honor afforded to two exemplary UW students each May who have maintained a high academic standing, demonstrated intellectual vigor, and centered their work on racial equality. In our interview, we asked Wooldridge to reflect on his last four years in Madison and what the future holds for him post-graduation.
You moved to Madison in 2020 as a freshman. Do you have a favorite memory from your time here?
Looking back, some of my favorite memories are the opportunities I had to travel. I did not grow up in the Midwest, so I explored a lot of cool cities nearby like Milwaukee and Chicago. Some of my favorite memories involve exploring different neighborhoods in Chicago, such as Pilsen, Ukrainian Village, the South Loop, and the North side. I loved learning about the history of each area while enjoying their unique foods. Additionally, I enjoyed spending time by the beautiful lakefront (and debating with locals whether the lakefront counts as a beach). I will always remember how fun it was to make those trips work.
How did you decide to add an African American Studies certificate to your plan of study?
I took my first Intro to African American Studies class because I needed to fulfill the Ethnic Studies requirement (every UW student must take one). Academically, I learned that I valued the smaller seminars classes where we got to discuss reading material deeply. Having the opportunities for discussion-based learning, especially in the African American Studies department, and having those small seminars were helpful and it intrigued me to dig deeply into different people’s perspectives. I really fell in love with my first African American Studies course because I learned so much historically that I was never previously exposed to. The lectures opened my mind to new paradigms such as slavery in the north and what it looked like for emancipation to happen. After that first class, I decided to add an African American Studies certificate to my plan of study, and I took three more classes from Professor Clark-Pujara. “Slavery and Capitalism” (AfroAm 621) was an eye-opening class as a business major; I hadn’t previously thought of the correlation between the two, slavery and capital and enslaved people being used as capital in this enterprise. The connection taught me to ask new questions and examine this big historical phenomenon with nuance.
Could you share what you were working on during your summer internship with Education Analytics?
During my internship, my primary focus was assisting in the development and execution of strategic communications plans to enhance the company’s brand visibility and reputation. The main question I was trying to answer with my position revolved around explaining Education Analytics’ mission to use rigorous analytics and help improve the American education system. My responsibilities included social media strategy, video and content creation, and assisting with press releases and visuals for external brand strategy. So essentially using various areas such as general marketing, outreach and conference work, social media, public relations, and both internal and external communications to show how our work can turn into actionable solutions for educational stakeholders.
You are hoping to pursue a master’s degree in divinity and business; can you share a bit about what motivated you to take this route in your career?
When I came to UW, I thought I wanted to be a biology major, but I completely changed paths. I received advice from every professor throughout my journey, and they all encouraged me to do what I was interested in. And I really love learning. Academia is the best outlet for that. I took a few Religious Studies classes at my time at UW, I took history courses through the African American Studies department…I have all these interests, and the difficult part is: how do I mix all these together? I’m hoping to find that balance in a maters program and let the research and literature guide me.
What advice would you give to underclassmen?
Follow your interests. Find the extra readings that are on Canvas; they can give key insights into further research. Make connections within and outside of the classroom through clubs and extracurriculars to find your community. UW-Madison is home to amazing faculty. Most of the scholars are here because they are the best in the world, and we have them in Madison! Go to your professor’s office hours, ask them about their research, and present your interests to them. Take advantage of all the opportunities UW has to offer.