Sophomore Colin Arnold will be taking over as the student trustee for Shippensburg University this fall, inheriting the position currently held by Rangeline DeJesus, who will be graduating this spring.

Arnold is a history major with minors in political science and military science and is wrapping up his first year here at Shippensburg, having transferred in from Mount St. Mary’s University. He is also a cadet in Shippensburg’s ROTC program, as well as a DJ for WSYC 88.7 FM.

An advertisement for the position first got Arnold thinking about applying for the role. “I was walking through the CUB, and on the TVs where they have ads for different positions or events, I saw they had an ad for student trustee,” Arnold said. “I kept it in mind, did a little research and it just seemed like an amazing opportunity.”

From there, Arnold decided to give it a shot and sent in an application, saying “I didn’t expect too much, and when I got to the interview phase, thought I had a really good interview with them and really enjoyed the other trustees, then got the call that they selected me and it was all very exciting.”

The call was from DeJesus, the current student trustee. Arnold mentioned he’s gotten a lot of advice from DeJesus since accepting the position, saying “She has done a fantastic job while she’s been in the position… Just being involved on campus, that was the biggest thing and just interacting with people you maybe don’t run into daily.”

ROTC has taught Arnold a lot about being a leader, saying “Showing humility, being respectful, building trust and just being a well-rounded person in general… really makes the best leaders”. He also started his own nonprofit as a passion project in high school, Flags Across Adams County, where he raised over $15,000 for Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors Inc. in just two years.

As he enters the position next fall, Arnold hopes to talk with as many students as he can, mentioning, “I want to get out there and hear from the student body, hear their concerns, what they really enjoy with the campus… really looking at the source of these problems and what’s causing them.”

Arnold wants his fellow students to know that “I’m always open, if you ever see me on campus and have a question or concern, don’t be afraid to stop me and ask… I’m just a regular student here on campus as well, don’t feel afraid to talk to me.”

In terms of what he wants to see at the end of his term, Arnold expressed that he intends to embrace the successes of our campus. “There’s so many good things going on here on campus, I think it’s important to focus on the positives,” Arnold said. “I want to make a positive impact being able to interact with people.” He finished by looking at the position’s future. “The next student trustee that takes over can just hit the ground running, like Rangeline and I did,” Arnold said. 

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