LEXINGTON, Va. Oct. 14, 2024 — Andrew Luna has been named director of the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research (AIR) at Virginia Military Institute, and will hold the rank of colonel in the Virginia Militia. He replaced Lee Rakes, who served in the role for two years before accepting a position at another higher education program.  

According to Luna, the primary responsibilities of AIR are collecting data and assessment.

“Because VMI offers financial aid to its students, we are required to collect and submit data to the state and federal governments. Likewise, we collect data for VMI administration for planning purposes. VMI is also required by various assessment agencies to have academic learning outcomes, and to show we are measuring the outcomes properly through testing, papers, and other types of scholastic exercises. So, we help the academic departments do that, and based upon the results of those outcomes, we know that either changes need to be made, or that we can stay the course to succeed. Additionally, we assess goals and outcomes of non-academic departments, and based on assessment results, we assist them on how to move forward,” he explained.

Luna’s short-term goals for his office are to create a stronger data structure with consistency throughout post, and to ramp up the institutional research and data component.

“I would like to have more data dashboards and research reports that will help the administration move forward.”

Luna has more than 25 years of experience in institutional effectiveness, institutional research, assessment, and quality improvement in higher education, serving most recently as executive director in the Office of Decision Support and Institutional Research at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. He also served as director in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia; director in the Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment at the University of North Alabama in Florence; and director of the Department of Institutional Research and Planning at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton. 

He brings to VMI extensive experience with accreditation, including service as an institutional liaison and participation on multiple review committees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which VMI has been accredited with since 1926. He is active in the institutional research community and has received multiple citations and awards from the Southern Association for Institutional Research.

Brig. Gen. Robert Moreschi, dean of the faculty and deputy superintendent for academics, shared that he is delighted to have Luna as a senior staff member of the academic program. “After only a few weeks at VMI, Luna has already made significant contributions to the SACSCOC reaffirmation of accreditation process, strategic enrollment management, and admissions,” he said.

Luna earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, a master’s degree in journalism, a second master’s in administration of higher education, and a doctorate in administration of higher education, all from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. 

He is thrilled to be at VMI.

“When I got my Ph.D. 31 years ago, I listed some institutions of which I wanted to be part, and VMI was one of those. When you walk on post, you get a totally unique feel. The fact that General Patton walked on that Parade Ground, and General Marshall and Chesty Puller came here. It’s mind boggling. This is going to be a really good way to cap off my career.”

Luna enjoys gardening, reading, writing, and photography. His wife, Danita, is a singer who has recorded a contemporary Christian CD. They have grown twins: Jay, a guitarist in Nashville, and Jessica, who has a career in public relations at the Potter College of Arts & Letters at Western Kentucky University. Luna and Danita will reside in Lexington with their 14-year-old rescue Bichon Frisé, “Pup-pup.”

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE