New Residential Life Director A Familiar Face 

Members of the Westminster community should be quite familiar and comfortable with the newly named Director of Residential Life. 

 James Arnold was Head Women’s Basketball Coach and Associate Director of Athletics at Westminster last year and is now going into his second season. 

 “I know our immediate short-term goals are to bring some much needed stability to this position,” says Arnold. “This is obviously important for our students, but it is also critical for our Resident Assistants.  We are all going to work together to ensure our residence hall students have a safe, inclusive, positive learning living environment.” 

 In his first season with the Blue Jay Nation, Arnold coached a team which recorded the top three records for points in a game in school history and led them to the SLIAC tournament title game for only the fourth time in school history, becoming the first-ever No. 4 seed in the tournament to upset the top seed and advance to the championship. 

 “I’ve been blessed to work in higher education for the majority of my life and a large portion of that time was spent working in residential and student life,” states Arnold.  “It’s always been in my blood—a passion—and I have always considered myself a student affairs professional.” 

 Previously, he served as Residential Coordinator at North Central Missouri College (NCMC) in Trenton, MO for two years, Assistant Director of Residential Life at NCMC for three years, Director of Intramurals at NCMC for two years, and advisor to the Student Government Association at NCMC for two years. 

 During college he was a Resident Assistant for two years and a Head RA for one.  In addition, he was the Student Body President during his sophomore and senior years. 

Arnold received his bachelor’s degree from Glenville State College in West Virginia where he was a member of the men’s basketball team.  He went on to earn an Executive Masters of Business Administration at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS.  

He is a native of Paw Paw, WV.  His wife Leslie and he have one daughter, Audrey.  

“I am certainly thankful for the opportunity to work with such a great staff and administration,” says Arnold.  “It’s because of them I am confident adding this new challenge will be a success.  Furthermore, I am really excited about this opportunity to serve and work with even more students here at Westminster.”  

Arnold will assume his new position Sept. 6.