Moving away from home and down to the South was a huge adjustment of life and culture for the new Resident Director of Flippen-Perrin Halls, Josh Bostanic, and his wife, Ashley. After graduating in May, the Bostanics left Pittsburg, Penn. to find their new home in Arkansas.
The Bostanics graduated from Malone University in Canton, Ohio in the spring and shortly made their way to Ouachita in June. Josh graduated with a degree in Bible Theology and Student Ministry and Ashley obtained her degree in Visual Arts with a minor in Art History. In college, the Bostanics were most involved with Res Life. Josh and Ashley both served as Residential Assistants their sophomore and junior years and Josh interned as a senior with the Student Development Office.
Being involved with Res Life throughout their college years, the Bostanics knew they both had a calling to work with college ministry. After Josh applied and was accepted as Flippen-Perrin Halls’ new RD, they both felt at peace about venturing away from their family and friends to begin this new stage of life and ministry.
“It was nerve wrecking when we first started thinking about coming to Arkansas,” Josh said. “When we started looking for opportunities after graduation I was applying for RD jobs and we were pretty open to go about anywhere.”
After making the decision to move to Arkansas, the Bostanics began preparing themselves for the adjustment the move would be. To their surprise, even though the people and culture are different, they believe Ouachita is much like their own college.
“Our college was about the same size of Ouachita and I would say it’s actually pretty similar,” Ashley said. “The community is very much a like except for some variations like certain rules, but there are the same expectations of students and stuff like that.”
After having experienced Ouachita for the past few months, the Bostanics have nothing but positive expectations for the rest of their time being at Ouachita.
“When we came down here we had no idea what the school would be like or who we would be working with but everyone has been so welcoming,” Josh said. “It also got a lot better once students moved back on campus. We love our residents and hope to make our home their home as well.”
Building relationships with their RA’s and residents has been the Bostanic’s goal as the semester is well underway. Josh and Ashley both agree that while they were in college it was then they fell in love with the young adult age group.
“We both understand the importance of what’s going on in life for students during their four years in college,” Josh said. “We just hope to be here to be helpful to guide them along while they are here.”
Participating in ministry while serving with Res Life was just as much an individual goal as well as one inside of their marriage.
“We actually met in college while working with Res Life and we started hanging out,” Ashley said. “We had discovered that we were from the same hometown and that our parents actually on live like five minutes away from each other.”
On top of Josh serving as the RD and Ashley being his right hand lady, Ashley is also pursuing many of her own passions as well while Josh heads a dorm full of freshmen boys.
“I’m an artist and I actually have my own small business that I work with,” Ashley said. “I have my own website and I paint and also work on water color greeting cards. Many of my projects are done on request.”
If you would like to find out more information on Ashley’s artwork, you can look at her website or contact her by email: quaintgreetings@gmail.com.
The Bostanics are waiting with open doors to meet and build relationships with students, feel free to pay them a visit and welcome them to the Ouachita family.
Story by Sydney Bratton
