Q&A with Jake Woodford, Mayor of Appleton
| Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford grew up in Appleton and attended Lawrence University, where he majored in political science and history.
After graduation, Woodward worked at the university as an assistant to Lawrence’s president. In 2020, Woodward was elected mayor of Appleton. New North sat down with Mayor Woodford to learn more about how higher education shapes careers and communities and why Northeast Wisconsin is a great place to grow a career and make an impact. |
 Jake Woodford, mayor of the city of Appleton |
Question: What made you stay in Northeast Wisconsin after graduation?
Woodford: I had the opportunity to work with a great mentor at Lawrence University. Growing up here, I knew what a great place it was to live.
Question: Why do you personally find post-secondary education important?
Woodford: Lifelong learning is so important, especially since the world around us is constantly changing. It’s important to learn and grow in our careers and our lives, and education is one way we can do that. My education allows me to pull in a lot of information as I make decisions.
Lifelong learning is something that I think we should all aspire to, no matter our educational background or experiences. If we’re not learning, we’re not growing, and we can’t make progress.
My experience at Lawrence also exposed me to experiences that were not my own.
Question: Would you have been able to achieve your career goals without your education?
Woodford: There aren’t any educational criteria to become mayor, but my experience is something I draw from every day.
My education in government and emergency management prepared me to do my job well. My education also informed me about how I approach my work.
My education has been foundational with what I do. And it’s made me a lot more comfortable with recognizing I don’t know everything. I can’t know everything, but I know how to find out because education is really the foundation of all the things that we value in our communities and in this country.
Question: Do you think going to college is worth it?
Woodford: I think we get the most value out of it if we’re honest with ourselves about what’s calling to us as a career. Without post-secondary education, I think we may miss a lot of opportunities.
There are a lot of paths out there. For some, it’s getting into an apprentice program and getting into the trades, which we need. For others, going to a four-year baccalaureate liberal arts institution, like me, is the right path.
It is absolutely valuable and critical to get an education, whatever that education looks like. Yes, I needed to take on debt to go to college, but for me, it was worth it because I gained so much from it.
Question: What kind of collaboration does the City of Appleton have with colleges and universities?
Woodford: The City has relationships with Lawrence, Fox Valley Technical College and the University of Wisconsin schools. We participate in job fairs and are deeply invested in helping young people learn more about government and what kind of education you need if you’re looking for a career in government.
Question: Why is the New North a great place to pursue your education and launch your career?
Woodford: There are so many excellent career options in the New North. You don’t have to limit yourself to one path. We have so many options available when it comes to careers. There are jobs in government, healthcare, finance, education, manufacturing and more.
When it comes to post-secondary options, we have a lot there too. We have schools offering everything from technical degrees to bachelor’s degrees, and we are also home to research institutes.
The area is a great place to live since there is so much to do, from outdoor activities to cultural opportunities.
There are not many places where you can start having an impact in your career and in your community as quickly as you can here in the New North, and I think that’s a hallmark of this region.
Learn more about our campaign supporting higher education in the New North—Growing Roots, Finding Wings—along with Lawrence University and the city of Appleton.
