The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand how residence directors, an entry-level professional staff position in student affairs administration, make meaning of wellness within their job function in order to respond to the complex needs of residential students in a diverse college environment. Utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis as the methodological approach, data was gathered from eight self-identified residence directors through semi-structured interviews. Three main super-ordinate themes emerged from the participants as having a significant impact on residence director wellness: (a) the role of institutional culture on the wellness of residence directors, (b) the role of departmental culture on the wellness of residence directors, and (c) the day-to-day residence director experience. Implications for future research and recommendations for prospective and current residence directors, supervisors of residence directors, student affairs leadership, and student affairs graduate program faculty are presented. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]