LEXINGTON, Va., Oct. 19, 2022—Virginia Military Institute recently appointed new staff members to two essential positions: Lt. Col. Joseph Hagy has filled the role of director of admissions, and Lt. Col. Shannon Eskam is the new director of financial aid.

Dr. John Young, VMI chief of staff, said of their arrival, “In the rapidly changing landscape of college enrollment, Lieutenant Colonel Eskam and Lieutenant Colonel Hagy will bring contemporary financial aid and admissions skills, respectively, to the Institutes’ renewed enrollment management mission. We are thrilled to onboard two experienced professionals to lead mission-critical functions of the Institute.”

Hagy, who grew up in Virginia’s lower peninsula, most recently served as director of student services and chief student affairs officer overseeing admissions, recruitment, financial aid, veterans’ services, and academic advising at Mountain Gateway Community College (formerly Dabney S. Lancaster Community College) in Clifton Forge, Virginia. His previous roles at Mountain Gateway included retention coordinator and dual enrollment coordinator, and he taught student development, business management, and team leadership courses as an adjunct instructor. He also served as executive director of the Mountain Gateway Community College Educational Foundation. He holds a master’s degree in executive leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia and a bachelor’s degree from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.

As director of admissions at VMI, Hagy plans for strategic growth over the next five years, incorporating the help of ROTC, staff cadets responsible for recruiting and public affairs, faculty, and alumni organized in teams called “tiger teams,” a term made famous by NASA during the Apollo 13 lunar landing mission. A “tiger team” is a specialized, cross-functional work team brought together to identify and solve a specific problem. Each team will be led by members of Hagy’s department. “VMI is filled with eager and energetic champions who recognize our enrollment challenges and want to be a part of the solution. Our admissions team is top-notch and truly believes in VMI's mission. The entire Institute and alumni base are rallying behind the concept of enrollment management being a post-wide responsibility. The opportunity, experience, and return-on-investment that a VMI education provides young men and women is second to none. I am proud to be a part of such a world-class organization,” he said.

Hagy believes the admissions process should be proactive in making connections with potential students, and VMI should maintain contact with them from time of initial interest through matriculation. He wants to focus on the underserved and underrepresented groups: female, minorities, first generation to VMI, and students of low-income. “Often, members of these underrepresented groups may want to attend VMI, but feel there are obstacles preventing them. I want to be able to remove any barriers in their way. I use the metaphor of a garden hose that is pinched preventing the water from flowing. We need to work out those kinks,” he explained.

Hagy comes from a military family. His father served 32 years in the Army Reserves and the National Guard. His grandfather was a platoon leader in the first wave of the storming of Omaha Beach during World War II, and was awarded two Purple Hearts. “The values instilled in me all my life, that of service before self, is what attracts me to VMI. The mission, culture, and opportunities here are what makes it a wonderful place to work,” said Hagy.

Hagy resides in Buena Vista, Virginia, has three school-aged children, and is engaged to be married. He enjoys coaching baseball and has coached for both Rockbridge County High School and Parry McCluer High School, as well as his sons’ baseball teams. “My daughter has started to play softball, so I may get to coach her too,” he mused.

Eskam comes to VMI directly from Casper, Wyoming where she served as the director of financial aid, deputy Title IX coordinator, enrollment services supervisor, and Veterans Affairs certifying official at Casper College. Prior to Casper College, she worked at Gillette College in Gillette, Wyoming as the assistant director of financial aid services. She concedes that Wyoming is quite far and somewhat different from Virginia, but she and her family were ready for a change. “There is a rich history here in Virginia, and I want my children to explore the area and learn from all the opportunities it affords. Both my husband and I grew up in a town similar to Lexington, which has a wonderful family atmosphere. Everyone here has been extremely supportive and kind to me,” she said.

Eskam plans to build relationships across post and be strategic and systematic in her work. “I want to make the financial aid process as seamless as possible. There are federal funds and state funds available, and we have so many fantastic donors with whom I look forward to meeting and working,” she said. She wants to help recruit and attract more students and maintain enrollment and retention. “I want to be a good steward with the funds we receive, and do well by our cadets, donors, and the entire Institute.”

Eskam earned her doctorate degree in higher education administration and a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. She holds a master’s degree in organizational management from Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. She is a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Rocky Mountain Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Wyoming Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and Association of Title IX Administrators.  

Eskam and her husband reside in Lexington, Virginia with their two school-aged children and two dogs. The family loves to spend time outdoors together, especially near water where they enjoy boating and kayaking. 

- VMI -