| |  Welcome from the Residential Experience Team
Greetings Class of 2030,
Only a few short months ago, we ushered the excellent Class of 2026 into the world to make positive impacts. While we will miss those members of our community, we are incredibly excited about the arrival of our newest Mules, the Class of 2030!
The Office of Residential Experience welcomes you into our community. Living on campus is more than just a place to sleep - it’s a place to make connections, learn, grow, and experience new things. You will have the unique opportunity to explore your first-year experience with some of the most remarkable people you’ll meet in this world. Be curious. Make yourself available to others and experiences. Be part of the Colby community!
Some amazing Colby student leaders guide our residential communities. One or more trained Community Advisors (CA) are located in each of our residence halls. As a resource, they are available to help guide and mentor you through your residential experience and your first year at Colby.
We guarantee that the time that you will spend in the residence halls will provide some of the most meaningful experiences of your academic career. As such, we encourage you to take advantage. How exactly might this look?
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Get involved! Exit your room, get to know others, and attend as many programs and events as possible. You’ll be amazed at the connections you will make if you put yourself out there. You can find clubs and events on MuleLife!
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Get to know the remarkable people who surround you. Be curious. See the potential for learning and growth in every moment, interaction, and connection. Check out your CA's program schedule for opportunities to meet those who live around you.
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Communicate openly with your roommate(s). You may not always agree, share the same perspective, or have a significant amount in common. However, learning to share, listen, and compromise in difficult situations is essential for developing your interpersonal skills. Begin this on day one to set the stage for a successful year. If you want help navigating a new conversation, ask your CA for resoureces on Restorative Practices.
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Complete your Roommate Agreement and be honest in the process. Too often, students avoid advocating upfront to create harmony and avoid conflict. Having honest, open conversations from the beginning is essential to roommates' success. It prevents concerns later on and ultimately develops better awareness and understanding of each other.
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Respect the members of your community, whether they are your peers, the Community Advisor(s), custodial staff, or any other person who spends time in the building. This extends to the physical building as well. Your community is your home at Colby, and your home and everyone who lives in it deserve respect.
Members of the Office of Residential Experience are here to help you learn and grow throughout your four-year journey. If you scroll past your packing to-dos below, you can read a little about each team member who supports Colby’s residential community.
We look forward to meeting you during Orientation!
Your Residential Experience Team |
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 What to Bring...What to Leave At Home
Are you curious about what you might need or want to bring with you? Want to know what should be left at home? Our packing list will definitely help with both! Check out the link below for more information.
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 Sign Up For A Shuttle!
Colby is pleased to offer transportation for incoming First-Year students from the Portland Jetport to campus on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM. If you have any questions, please reach out to housing@colby.edu or call 207-859-4280.
Please note, this transportation is for students only and is provided one-way.
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 MicroFridge & Bigger Bed Rentals
As you begin to prepare to come to campus, we'd like to introduce you to Mule Mob Rentals to help make your move-in comfortable and easy. Mule Mob Rentals is Colby’s vendor partner for bigger bed and MicroFridge rentals.
Since 2014, more than 3,000 Colby students have upgraded their College twin XL beds to larger full-size XL beds through our vendor partner, Mule Mob Rentals.
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If you order before August 25th, the bed will be waiting for you prior to your arrival.
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If you don’t love it for any reason, Mule Mob Rentals offers a full, no-questions-asked refund within 30 days of your arrival to campus.
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White-glove delivery, setup, and pickup are all included.
Mule Mob Rentals also provides a MicroFridge (minifridge, freezer, and microwave) solution that beats the hassle of purchasing, transporting, and storing your own appliances.
Head to https://mulemobrentals.com and use code JULY10 for 10% off your rental.
When making your purchase, please use your Colby College email address.
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 Let E&R Do Your Laundry
For the 2026-2027 academic year, Colby College and E&R – The Campus Laundry will once again partner to provide optional laundry and dry-cleaning services to all interested students. E&R has been providing professional laundry service to over 100 preparatory schools, colleges, and universities throughout the Northeast and has partnered with Colby College over 15 years.
E&R’s laundry plans deliver real value and help students make the most of their free time on campus by saving between 80 and 100 hours per school year. All garments are cleaned in a sanitary, eco-friendly facility using non-toxic solutions, reducing our carbon footprint while delivering high-quality care that extends the life of clothing.
E&R offers several efficient and practical programs. You may view E&R Laundry’s promotional information and enroll at thecampuslaundry.com/colby by selecting the plan that best suits your needs. The sign-up process is simple and will take just minutes.
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|  | Dan Cline - Dean of Housing and Residential Education
Dan Cline (he/him) serves as the Dean of Housing & Residential Education in the Office of Residential Experience. He joined the Colby community in July 2020 and his professional career has been spent exclusively in college and university student housing programs at small liberal arts institutions. Prior to joining Colby, Dan supported student growth and development at Curry College (Milton, MA), Baldwin Wallace University (Berea, OH) and Elizabethtown College (Elizabethtown, PA). Dan attended The University of Rhode Island for both his undergraduate (BA, History) and graduate (MS, Human Development & Family Studies; College Student Personnel) degrees.
Originally from Rhode Island, Dan and his family call Sidney, Maine their home. He enjoys going to concerts, cheering on the Red Sox and the Patriots, traveling (especially to Disney World), and exploring the local area with his spouse (Andrea) and two young children (Austin and Caleb).
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 | Shikha Shrestha - Assistant Director of Residential Education
Shikha Shrestha (she/hers) is the Assistant Director of Residential Education, where she oversees the Hall Staff program and the day to day operations and processes of the program. She joined the Colby community in July of 2023, bringing her undergraduate and graduate experience of working in residential education to enhance the residential experience at Colby.
Shikha earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Criminology with a minor in Economics from Ramapo College of New Jersey (Mahwah, NJ) and a Masters in Higher Education Degree from Rowan University (Glassboro, NJ). She enjoys going on hikes, concerts or learning new crafts in her time outside work.
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|  | Sheila Copperthite - Assistant Dean and Director of Housing Administration
Sheila Copperthite (she/her) serves as the Assistant Dean and Director of Housing Administration, where she leads the College’s housing operations. She joined Colby in October 2024 and is excited to partner with students and help make their residential experience feel like home. Before coming to Colby, Sheila worked in several roles within the Bantam Network and Housing at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Neuroscience and later completed her Master’s in Public Policy at Trinity.
At home, Sheila loves spending time with her husband, Joel, their children, Calliope and Philip, and their wonderful (and very entertaining) collection of cats. When she's not at work, she enjoys trying out new recipes, learning random trivia facts, and creating memorable adventures with her family.
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 | Kady Shea - Assistant Director of Residential Education
Kady Shea (she/her) is the Assistant Director of Residential Education, where she supports students in the residence halls and collaborates with Hall Staff to create a strong, connected living experience. She works closely with Colby's Area Resident Directors and Community Advisors to build community, support student wellbeing, and help make the residence halls feel like home.
Kady is someone you can go to if you have questions about living on campus and college life, are navigating a roommate or housing situation, want to get more involved, or just need help figuring something out. She supports community standards, helps lead events and programming, and enjoys connecting with students about their experience at Colby.
She brings over ten years of experience in residential life and student engagement, with previous roles at Grinnell College, Wellesley College, Middlebury College, Agnes Scott College, Hampshire College, and Simmons University. Kady earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from Simmons University and a Master’s in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago.
Outside of work, Kady enjoys hiking, attending campus events, being outdoors, playing and watching sports, creating art, and walking with her dog, Pearl. Her office is located on the second floor of Cotter Union in Page Balcony 253, and she lives on campus in the Schupf Faculty Apartment, so you will often see her around and she is always happy to connect.
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|  | Kyle Arthenayake - Associate Director of Residential Education
Kyle Arthenayake (he/him) is the Associate Director of Residential Education, where he leads the Hall Staff program and helps shape the residential experience at Colby. He joined the Colby community in October 2021, initially working in the Pugh Center for Multicultural Programs. By December 2022, he transitioned to the Office of Residential Experience, bringing his passion for building a collaborative and inclusive community. He applies student development theories to foster holistic student growth.
Kyle earned his undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Oregon University and a Master’s in Higher Education Development from the University of Maine-Orono. When he's not working, Kyle enjoys spending time with his partner, Katie ’20; their 4-month-old, Wes; their two dogs, Piper and Stevie; and four chickens, Diana, Karen, Ruth, and Ingrid. Depending on the season, you might find Kyle in his organic garden, skiing the trails at Quarry Road, or brewing beer.
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 | Angelica Loredo - Administrative Assistant for the Offices of Residential Experience and Student Engagement
Angelica Loredo is the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Residential Experience, where she supports the team with a focus on community and organization. She holds a Bachelor of University Studies from the University of Maine, with a concentration in Peace and Reconciliation and a minor in Anthropology.
Currently, Angelica is expanding her expertise as a student of Sustainable Horticulture at Unity Environmental University. Her passion for the natural world is reflected in her active memberships with the American Public Gardens Association and the International Carnivorous Plant Society. On campus, she balances her administrative work by tending to her collection of rare plants housed in the Colby College greenhouse.
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