Award-winning Radio TV Film senior found her path, says UWO gave her space to figure it out

Emelia Roberts, who will serve as the Commencement speaker for the UW-Oshkosh morning ceremony May 17, sits at the anchor desk in the Titan TV studio.

When Emelia Roberts takes the stage at the 151st Spring Commencement Ceremony on May 17 at UW-Oshkosh's Kolf Sports Center, she won't just be crossing it as a graduate. She'll be stepping into a moment she's envisioned for years.

A Radio TV Film major with certificates in music and multimedia journalism, Roberts has been behind the scenes at the university's past four commencement ceremonies, helping things run smoothly as a student marshal and event assistant. Now, she'll be front and center as one of two student speakers, sharing a message shaped by resilience, creativity and finding confidence in the unexpected.

After starting college at another university, Roberts transferred to UW-Oshkosh and immediately found a sense of belonging in the RTF program. There, she thrived as a director, producer, radio host and award-winning writer. She built not just technical skills, but a deep connection to storytelling and community. Whether she was pitching bold ideas or dancing between takes in the studio, Roberts discovered that leaning into her authentic self was the key to building meaningful relationships and realizing her potential.

In this Q&A, Roberts talks about following her creative instincts, the professors who shaped her confidence and how her behind-the-scenes roles prepared her for this moment in the spotlight.

Your journey to UWO wasn't straightforward. What inspired you to take the leap and pursue your creative passions here?
Since I graduated from high school in 2018, my dad (Bob Roberts) was a vice chancellor at UWO, and he beckoned me to come to his school. When you graduate from a small town (New London, Wisconsin), however, your brain just naturally wants to get as far away as you reasonably can. I had extended family in Duluth, Minnesota, so I went to UM-Duluth to pursue science. I thought I wanted to be a dentist. The school was too big, I felt invisible and there was no connection to any arts. It felt impossible to connect with anyone because that would mean I had to be vulnerable. One of my roommates also attempted to take her life, and that brush with death made me realize how short life is to waste it on pursuing something that isn't your passion. UWO immediately felt like home and there is simply nothing better than coming home after you've felt so lost.

Which classes/professors have made an impression on you?

All of my RTF professors have made a huge impression on me and my life. They all evenly contributed to making the space as female empowering as possible, with the overwhelming ratio of male to female in every class. Vincent Filak gets honorable mention as my favorite journalism professor, because he pushed me to meet my potential and always met with me in his office to talk about the serious stuff which included many meetings of me crying and him consoling me. Radio professor Wendell Ray introduced me to the beauty of radio and surprised me by putting me up for the WBA award that I won. Michael Van Esler taught me how to analyze what I'm watching while keeping my own sense of self in my writing. Adam Diller trusted me with a position of power and pushed me to take all the opportunities possible, which included me directing a short film for the first time.

Beth Hubbard has always been in my corner and ensured that I would be in her classes to use the strengths that she saw in me that I didn't know I had. Justine Stokes was my savior, though. Not only is she one of the most understanding, coolest, well-balanced people I know, but she also taught me what being a woman in this business looks like and how to advocate for myself. I will never forget everything she has taught me about production in front and behind the camera, as well as the lessons she's taught me about life.(Note: Roberts won the Boyd Huppert Excellence in Radio Writing Award at the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association conference in February.)

What made you decide on your major?
I thought RTF was actually Radio, Theatre, Film, and was excited to get to act in different productions. When I got here and realized it was TV, I couldn't believe you could make money falling in love with the art of broadcasting. I couldn't be happier with my choice.

You've worn so many hats at UWO: director, host, producer, writer. Which role challenged or changed you the most, and why?
Hosting a live show always challenges me because you have to think on the fly and produce as you go, but because I've always been a performer, I would say that my work behind the camera has been the most important. Directing and producing news stories has been the biggest challenge, but also the biggest reward I have found in my college career.

What's one project at Titan TV or WRST that made you think, "Wow, I can really do this?"
Creating my Female Power Hour radio show on 90.3 WRST revealed my strength of combining the history of music with a slight dash of comedy and entertainment. Creating The Blunder Show with my work wife and RTF role model, Jena Plutz (who is also graduating in May), showed me that I can create an entire show and show concept from nothing. Also, creating EEP, Emelia's Embarrassing Podcast, made me realize that I can totally pursue podcasting as freelance work in my future. The biggest project that showed me what I can do would have to be directing my own short film I wrote for Titan Film Society called 3 Minutes. It truly defined my love for leadership and shed light on my capabilities. You never know what you can do, until you just do it.

You've worked past commencements. How does it feel to be the one delivering the speech this time?
In past commencements, I have worked as a student marshal and assisted Director of University Event and Conference Services Lynn Kleman as her right-hand woman in the position of Special Events Assistant Coordinator. I have watched and worked on the UWO commencement four times, and I can't wait to finally be crossing the stage and taking part in the celebration. I've always dreamed of giving the class speech and making the most of the moment, and I can't wait to share my story and be up there on that stage!

UWO is where you say you found your people. Can you share a moment when you really felt that sense of belonging?
I am one of those people who gets along with everyone and gives off the impression that I have too many friends, when in reality, I find it really hard to make or retain real friends or find a way to make like-minded people stick around to become friends. The RTF department is filled with so many people who have the same predicament as me, especially my closest colleague and work wife, Jena Plutz. I've always admired her work in Titan TV, her leadership skills and the way she makes people feel included. Those traits have all rubbed off on me as we have worked together the past two years of our college career and I couldn't be more grateful for it.

You mention in your application/speech about "embracing your weird." How have you done that at UWO? How has that helped you build confidence or connect with others at UWO?
"Embracing my weird" basically became my full-time job at UWO. Whether I was dancing in the studio between takes, adding absurd sound effects to my radio show, or pitching a live show idea that involved me embarrassing myself on purpose, I leaned all the way into being unapologetically myself.

Once I stopped trying to be "cool" and just owned my quirks, I found my people, other creatives who liked being just as weird, loud and passionate as I was. Honestly, being weird was the best networking strategy I didn't know I had.

What advice would you give to a student who's questioning their path, just like you once did?
To anyone questioning their path: same. I switched dreams like three times and had at least one dramatic "what am I doing with my life?" moment per semester, and still somehow ended up exactly where I needed to be. It's OK to not have it all figured out. Try stuff, mess up, change your mind, and trust that you're learning something from every awkward, chaotic, and surprisingly magical step. And remember even the "wrong" path can lead to the right people, the right passions and the best stories.

What are your plans for after graduation?
My plans after graduation are to pursue a career in TV broadcasting. Whether that be directing or producing news in Green Bay, I am unsure yet, as I am still in the process of interviewing and fielding new offers.

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Study radio TV film at UWO