Roza Bost will graduate on Dec. 19 with a Master of Arts in applied communication. Her goal is to work at an international nonprofit organization because of her interest in multicultural issues. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I was adopted from Russia at age four, and I was raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I wrote a short story called “The Sweet Exchange” about my memories of the orphanage. My goal is to share my story with international adoptee parents and international adoptees.

In 2008, I went to the Arkansas Governor’s School, a four-week residential program for rising seniors in the state. This was a game changer for me because there was not a lot of diversity where I grew up.

Why did you choose applied communication?

I began my journey at UA Little Rock studying speech communication online and loved the coursework and the professors. (This is now called the Department of Applied Communication.) While I was an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to participate in a University of Nebraska study about health disparities in minority communities. This experience inspired me to get my graduate degree in applied communications.

What has COVID-19 taught you about communications?

The pandemic has made me see the importance of crisis communications. This is especially important right now.

Tell us about your master’s project on multicultural identity development?

I got the idea from the study I worked on in Nebraska. In total, there are 7-8 racial compositions. We conducted interviews about each of their experiences and how they transformed themselves to fit within certain groups. For instance, I am both Asian and white. Sometimes, I can act more Asian or white, depending on the situation. My research was conducted through autoethnography. The goal for this study was to illustrate how social experiences affect identity.

What are your hobbies or extracurricular activities?

I volunteer at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and Robinson Center. It’s a great way to meet people and see the programs for free. Also, I love animals and am passionate about animal rights.

What was your favorite memory from UA Little Rock?

Dr. Gerald Driskill always had Christmas parties for the students at his home. We’d play Dirty Santa and have lots of fun. 

Do you have any advice for incoming students?

Go with your gut about what you want to do with your life. Don’t let others tell you what you should do or major in. Find a mentor such as an older student or professor. We used to call Dr. McIntyre’s office the “purple vortex.” This is where we could go talk and vent. And lastly, don’t give up. Envision who you want to be in the future.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to work for an international nonprofit that deals with multicultural issues. 

This commencement story was compiled by Toni Boyer-Stewart.