Born Lorraine C. Arsenault in Lynn, Massachusetts, Lori the third of five children of ENCA(SS) Tilmon J. Arsenault, lost at sea on the USS Thresher (SSN 593), and Hilda (Jill) Arsenault Robinson of New Hampshire. She inherited her versatility and love of music and technology from her father, and her drive for self-reliance from her mother, who was left with five young children to raise when Thresher was lost at sea with all hands on April 10, 1963.

Lori was raised playing various instruments and creating things for enjoyment. She learned from her dad to play the organ as a small child, and picked up the guitar in her teens. She began providing liturgical music in the Catholic Church by the time she was 17. She majored in classical guitar as a college student, left before graduation to raise a family, then returned to school and earned her Bachelor's in Music Performance from the University of Southern Maine in 1999. In 1995, Lori won first prize at the Down East Society for the Classical Guitar, College Division competition. While a student at USM, Lori developed a work study concentration in arts promotion, communication, and media relations.

In February 2011, Lori was appointed Special Assistant to the Dean in Communications and External Affairs in the College of Science, Technology and Health at USM. In service to the University community, Lori is a co-secretary and chair of the communications committee of the Professional Staff Senate, and professional representative to the Faculty Senate. Previously, she had been Administrative Manager in the Office of the Dean of the School of Applied Science, Engineering since 2002, and treasure of the Universities of Maine Professional Staff Association. She has taken an active role in promoting higher education in Maine, particularly in the areas of the applied sciences and music

In the community, Lori sits on the steering committee of the Community Partnerships for Protecting Children of greater Portland, bringing her communication skills to the service of that organization. As the mother of two boys, she was the fundraising chairperson, communications director, volunteer coordinator and co-coach for Team 172, one of Maine's FIRST Robotics teams for high school students from 2003 to 2008. She currently maintains a virtual hub on the Web helping to connect all of Maine's FIRST Robotics teams together in the spirit of teamwork and “gracious professionalism.” 

Sole proprietor of Arsenault Artist Management, she also manages Web sites for American orchestral conductor, Lawrence Golan based in Denver, Colorado; Jazzman Scott Reeves in New York City; Richter Ensembles in Maine, several other art and music Web sites, and several sites for religious and non-profit communities, including a memorial web site for the USS Thresher (SSN593).

Among a wide variety of interests and activities, Lori stays active with a great passion for both roller and ice dance skating. Lori is also a singer and songwriter, and plays double bass in a band that plays an eclectic mix of swing and classic rock tunes. On weekends, she is music director in the Catholic Church, and has been a guest minister of music throughout New England for various faith communities, most recently serving the Catholic communities in English and Spanish in Portland, Maine, and currently directing music in Gorham, Maine where she resides.