New Corps Staff

Col. Jamie Cogbill

Jamie Cogbill is a U.S. Army colonel, transitioning into a full-time role with the Corps of Cadets as deputy director for the Rice Center for Leader Development. He also serves as the deputy director for the Defense Civilian Training Corps in the Virginia Tech National Security Institute. Previously, Cogbill served as the professor of military science and department head for Virginia Tech's Army ROTC where he led over 500 cadets and 30 faculty and staff to commission officers of character for the U.S. Army. He is completing over 27 years in the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer, with multiple operational deployments, an assignment at the Pentagon, and duties focused on the acquisition of Army intelligence systems. He is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service (B.S.F.S.) and Public Policy School (M.P.M), and he is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He and his wife, Carrie, now consider themselves adopted Hokies and are fully invested in the motto, “This is home.”

Erika Freeman

Erika Freeman joined the Corps staff in August as the embedded counselor. She often integrates her previous experiences of being a swim coach and collegiate athlete to assist others in exploring and establishing meaningful short and long-term goals. Prior to joining the Corps team, she worked for the local community service board for 15 years as the school-based clinician at Floyd County High School. 

Freeman graduated from Old Dominion University in 2006 with a degree in human services counseling and earned her master’s degree in counseling and human development from Radford University in 2013. She enjoys gardening, cooking, swimming, backpacking, and traveling to attend various music festivals and concerts.  She is available for cadets in CLMS #126. 

Jennings King

Jennings King is a case manager for the Corps of Cadets, working under Residential Well-Being.  As a case manager, he collaborates with student leaders to ensure the needs of all cadets are being met, connecting with the VTCC community and providing resources as needed. 

King is an East Tennessee native, earning an undergraduate degree from Carson-Newman University, studying psychology and social entrepreneurship.  King came to Virginia Tech in 2022 to work on a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs, graduating in May 2024. 

Although still new to the Corps, King enjoys learning the culture and traditions the students follow while working to support and advocate for cadets.

Corps intern

Shemaiah Palma ’27

Shemaiah Palma joined the Corps staff in May 2024 and will continue to work as the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets' Alumni Advancement Associate for the fall and spring semesters of 2024-2025. She is responsible for aiding the scholarship manager with scholarship awarding as well as organizing alumni events. A biochemistry major, Palma is a member of Foxtrot Company, Navy ROTC, and participates in many other extracurricular activities. As a Filipino immigrant, she is proud to represent her culture as the public affairs officer for the Asian American Cadet Organization, which promotes representation and education within the Corps of Cadets along with other multicultural organizations within Virginia Tech.