Hired Before Graduation “Where Are They Now?”: Jake Lesh

June 11, 2025

At UW-Whitewater, it’s never too late to start your degree.

Jake Lesh recognizes the great impact that a close community like the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has on the ability to form meaningful, lasting connections.

A 2013 graduate with a BFA in theatre, Lesh has held acting close to his heart ever since his first theatre experience in fifth grade. When he chose to attend UW-Whitewater to continue studying what he loved, he was given the opportunity to continue building his performance skills and to immerse himself into a welcoming community of peers with similar interests.

“What happens in the classroom setting is important when developing professional skills, but the social connections outside of the classroom environment are equally as important when starting a career,” said Lesh.

Lesh went on to emphasize the importance of making connections with faculty within the university, and how those connections became sources of support and guidance as he developed his acting skills.

“My favorite memories during my time at UW-Whitewater were when my professors became my colleagues. These individuals were crucial to my development as an actor — I would be nothing without their help and guidance. They continue to invigorate my spirit years after graduation.”

In 2013, Lesh was hired before graduation by Door Shakespeare in Door County. Since then, he has continued to blossom, moving to New York and becoming an award-winning actor with appearances on shows available on Apple TV, Peacock, Amazon Prime, and Tubi. He has won multiple awards for his acting skills over the years and was recently awarded Best Acting at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival for his performance in “Made of Stars,” a film set to release later in 2025.

Lesh’s advice for current students in the same theatre program where he flourished is to use their university years to explore, take risks, and develop connections before entering the professional world. When these students graduate, he hopes they allow themselves to find comfort in the failure that often comes before success.

“Work as hard as you can, but also remember to give yourself the grace to be human. This is a marathon, not a sprint — you have to learn how to fail,” said Lesh. “Just keep pushing. Your effort will eventually manifest into something powerful that you could never have imagined.”