The UW–Madison School of Education offers academic excellence in areas spanning the arts, health, and education. We are a proud community of innovative leaders, creative thinkers, and fearless trailblazers. Our talented students are committed to making their college experience a meaningful journey that aligns with their interests and helps them achieve their future goals.
Following is a Q&A with Nora Wondra, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in both Textiles and Fashion Design & Theatre and Drama and graduating in spring 2025.
Where are you from? How did you become interested in pursuing a degree in this field?
I am from a small town in Northern Wisconsin called Saint Croix Falls. I have always been interested in storytelling and the act of creating, and the theatre is a place where those two meet! I grew up surrounded by all things sewing; my mom is a seamstress, so I would play with the scraps on her sewing room floor all the time. I was always a creative kid in acting, music, writing, and speaking. I came to UW–Madison as a Textiles and Fashion Design major. However, I added Theatre and Drama as a second major my sophomore year, and haven’t looked back since.
How did you decide that you wanted to become a UW–Madison Badger?
My amazing older sister went to UW–Madison and was also a theatre major. I remember coming to her shows here when I was in middle and high school. By the time I was looking for colleges in my sophomore and junior years, I knew UW–Madison felt familiar to me — all thanks to my big sister, Emma. After learning about the Fashion major in the School of Human Ecology, I was hooked and knew I wanted to be a Badger.
What has been your most meaningful experience with the Theatre and Drama program?
To be honest, I have had a lot of meaningful experiences within the UW Theatre program, including acting in “Ms. Holmes and Ms.Watson,” going to London for two weeks, and finding all of my friends. One of my most rewarding and affirming experiences was building my own costume for “Pride and Prejudice” in the fall of 2024. In this show, I played Mrs. Bennet, the mother of the Bennet sisters, while also working in the costume shop. I was able to experiment with making corsets for most of the female characters on stage, as well as draping my own dress and coat for the show. I have never been an actor and a draper for the same show before! This rewarding experience of acting and being behind-the-scenes in costumes resulted in me learning so many new things throughout the semester.
What class or professor had the greatest impact on you, and why?
I’ve had so many incredible classes and professors throughout my time at UW–Madison, but I have to say that Aly Amidei, Jim Greco, and Rebekah Jacobs stand out as the most impactful in my journey.
When I took Aly’s costume design class during my sophomore year, I left the class knowing I wanted to pursue a career in costumes. Ever since then, the costume department hasn’t been able to get rid of me! I was also able to assistant costume design with Aly during my junior year for the department’s production of “Orlando.” She has always answered any of my questions and has had a greater impact on me than I think she realizes.
After taking the costume practicum in draping with Jim, I am more confident in my sewing, pattern-making, and life skills. I would not be at the level I am without Jim giving me extra mini lessons or pushing me to be better.
Lastly, Rebekah has shown me that I don’t have to be good at just one thing. As the costume shop assistant, I’ve worked closely with Rebekah during my time as a student hourly in the costume department. She has made me a better stitcher, actor, and overall person. Over the past two years, she’s seen more potential in me than I’ve been able to see in myself, and for that I’m truly grateful.
I’m deeply thankful for these professors, whose support and guidance have shaped who I am as a senior preparing to graduate from UW–Madison.
What are your future goals or plans?
Before I move on to the next phase, I plan to spend the summer here in Madison, soaking up as much of this city as I can before I leave. My plan is to work at a regional theatre for a couple of years and gain experience in costume design before pursuing graduate school. That being said, I’m still figuring things out, so my plans may evolve as I continue to explore my options.
What are some tips that you have for anyone starting college/transferring to a new one?
My advice to anyone just starting college is this: Push yourself out of your comfort zone and explore what truly excites you. Nothing helps you grow more than sitting in that uncomfortable unknown. I started college feeling scared out of my mind. As a freshman, I didn’t have any friends, I wasn’t sure what direction I was heading in, and I was afraid of new experiences. When I found my major, my people, and my place in the theatre, everything began to change. I started growing and embracing any new opportunity that came my way.
What are some tips that you have for current students who are trying to maximize their experience?
My advice for current students is pretty much the same: Do something that scares you. Reach out. Ask the question. Teachers are more likely to notice and help you if you take the initiative to ask questions. I recently ran into my textile science professor from almost two years ago, who has since retired, and he remembered my name, my major, and who I was — all because I asked him so many questions and made a positive impression. You never know what you can gain from taking a chance you wouldn’t otherwise take or from asking a question you might normally shy away from.