Get to Know the Newest Members of the W&L Community – 8/6/24 The following individuals recently joined the Washington and Lee employee workforce.

Communications & Public Affairs
August 6, 2024

Josh Gildea, Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach – Athletics

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.

I graduated from Lycoming College with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. I have a dog named Mac and the rest of my family is spread across the Northeast and Virginia.

Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I will often hike or adventure with Mac and otherwise, I enjoy staying active by playing golf and/or pickleball.

Q. Any favorite regional spots or activities you are excited about?
I am excited to explore the various Regional and National Parks and forest areas. I would also like to visit Smith Mountain Lake.

---

Devony Hines, Associate Director of Admissions – Admissions and Financial Aid

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
I attended Brenau University where I earned a Bachelor of Science in health sciences and an MBA in human resources management. I am married to an incredible husband, Matthew, and together we have a beautiful daughter, Harper, who will turn two in October. Our family is relocating from Charlotte. We are avid foodies and enjoy watching true crime television. I also enjoy all the Chicago series’, and the Army Wives series (annually). My favorite wholesome movies are “The Intern” and “Remember the Titans.”

Q. Any favorite regional spots or activities you are excited about?
I am excited to learn more about the different small towns in the area and find some great food places. I was lucky to experience TAPS, so I can’t wait to eat there again. Feel free to send me your favorite food places at dhines@wlu.edu (bonus points if there are some kid-friendly options).

Q. Anything else you’d like to share with the W&L community?
I have never met a stranger. I look forward to meeting everyone.

---

James Ito, Museums Registrar – Museums

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
I graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts in art history and earned a Master of Arts in art history from Montana State University. I worked as a registrar at The Church History Museum in Salt Lake City for 10 years. I am married and have three kids that bring a lot of excitement and challenges. My wife also got a new job across the street at VMI. I was in the Army for eight years and that brought me to Virginia multiple times, and I began to fall in love with this state.

Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I love to do oil paint portraits, monuments and landscapes every chance I get. I also love to atch movies and I religiously follow the Oscars. I am a big-time museum-goer and I’m a member of the 501st legion as a scout trouper, which is a professional Star Wars costuming group.

Q. Anything else you’d like to share with the W&L community?
I am passionate about American history, and to be working for an institution that dates back before the foundation of the United States is dumbfounding to me. Everyone has been so polite and helping me feel at home. I am very excited to get to work.

---

Haiden Lancaster, University Counselor – Student Counseling

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
I graduated from Wofford College in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and minor in art history (I am terrible at creating art, but I love to study and understand it). I also earned a Master of Science in social work with a certification in trauma treatment from the University of Tennessee in 2023. I am the oldest of three kids – with two younder brothers, ages 23 and 20.

Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
I like to unwind in the typical ways – watching television, reading, exercising and cooking. I can play several instruments and I played violin in my college’s orchestra. I love to collect vinyl records and the first record I ever bought was Billy Joel’s album “The Stranger.” I didn’t even have a record player at the time, but I was obsessed with Billy Joel. I eventually got a record player and when I began going on college tours, my parents and I would hit a record store in each of the college towns we visited.

Q. Any favorite regional spots or activities you are excited about?
I basically lived in Spartanburg, South Carolina for my entire life. I’ve lived other places for several months at a time, but never made a big move away, so I’m just excited to be living somewhere new! I’ve gotten to know a little bit of Lexington through my partner and his family, but no established favorites just yet.

---

Erica Slagle, Custodian

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
I have a daughter who is 10 years old and I just recently got married on June 15, 2024. 

Q. How do you unwind or have fun? Any hobbies or hidden talents?
My daughter loves water, so we spend a lot of time at the pool or the lake.

Q. Best advice anyone has ever given you?
“You will never get what you want until you are grateful for what you have.”