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Nathan Arnold

Nathan Arnold

Principal

101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
T 202.689.2960
nathan.arnold@nelsonmullins.com
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Nathan Arnold advises nonprofits, foundations, and states working to improve postsecondary student outcomes through federal and state policy. He has helped clients secure significant policy changes, including restoring Pell grants to incarcerated students, increasing funding to Minority Serving Institutions, FAFSA simplification, and regulations protecting students from low-value programs.

He previously served as Chief of Staff to the...

Nathan Arnold advises nonprofits, foundations, and states working to improve postsecondary student outcomes through federal and state policy. He has helped clients secure significant policy changes, including restoring Pell grants to incarcerated students, increasing funding to Minority Serving Institutions, FAFSA simplification, and regulations protecting students from low-value programs.

He previously served as Chief of Staff to the Acting Under Secretary and as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education. In those capacities, he directed high-stakes policy initiatives, providing insight and guidance to the Under Secretary and Secretary of Education in the Obama and Trump Administrations.

He helped lead the Obama-Trump transition in the Department, ensuring the continued delivery of Department services to the higher education community and briefing incoming officials on time-sensitive decisions. He oversaw cross-agency teams in developing policy proposals governing more than $1 trillion in federal student aid, leading to the creation and implementation of several new federal regulations. He led the Department's interagency task force on proprietary education and oversaw the Department's efforts supporting borrowers attending closed schools following the closure of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. and ITT Technical Institute, among others.

He began his career at the Department in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, preparing senior Department officials for Congressional hearings and building relationships with legislative staff to advance Department policy. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia.

Nathan Arnold

Acting Under Secretary and as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education. In those capacities, he directed high-stakes policy initiatives, providing insight and guidance to the Under Secretary and Secretary of Education in the Obama and Trump Administrations.

He helped lead the Obama-Trump transition in the Department, ensuring the continued delivery of Department services to the higher education community and briefing incoming officials on time-sensitive decisions. He oversaw cross-agency teams in developing policy proposals governing more than $1 trillion in federal student aid, leading to the creation and implementation of several new federal regulations. He led the Department's interagency task force on proprietary education and oversaw the Department's efforts supporting borrowers attending closed schools following the closure of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. and ITT Technical Institute, among others.

He began his career at the Department in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, preparing senior Department officials for Congressional hearings and building relationships with legislative staff to advance Department policy. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia.

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Nathan Arnold advises nonprofits, foundations, and states working to improve postsecondary student outcomes through federal and state policy. He has helped clients secure significant policy changes, including restoring Pell grants to incarcerated students, increasing funding to Minority Serving Institutions, FAFSA simplification, and regulations protecting students from low-value programs.

He previously served as Chief of Staff to the... Acting Under Secretary and as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education. In those capacities, he directed high-stakes policy initiatives, providing insight and guidance to the Under Secretary and Secretary of Education in the Obama and Trump Administrations.

He helped lead the Obama-Trump transition in the Department, ensuring the continued delivery of Department services to the higher education community and briefing incoming officials on time-sensitive decisions. He oversaw cross-agency teams in developing policy proposals governing more than $1 trillion in federal student aid, leading to the creation and implementation of several new federal regulations. He led the Department's interagency task force on proprietary education and oversaw the Department's efforts supporting borrowers attending closed schools following the closure of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. and ITT Technical Institute, among others.

He began his career at the Department in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, preparing senior Department officials for Congressional hearings and building relationships with legislative staff to advance Department policy. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia.

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law, JD
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison, BA