Meet the MVSS Staff
Director - Alex Pirila
Originally from Phoenix, AZ, where after high school he joined the United States Marine Corps as a rifleman in the infantry. Upon completing his training, Alex deployed to Bahrain as a member of the 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Team. Following his first deployment, Alex was sent to join "The Thundering Third" Battalion, Fourth Marines in 29 Palms, California. While with 3/4, Alex deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a team leader and squad leader, respectively.
Alex was honorably discharged from the Marines and returned to Phoenix to begin his academic studies. He has earned a bachelor's in exercise science from Arizona State University, and a master's degree in exercise psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, he has worked with a wide breadth of athletes from youth and high school to professional and US special operations. His research focused on the effects of exercise on PTSD in military servicemembers.
While he enjoyed working in a training facility, Alex missed the camaraderie and is thrilled to be working with student veterans.
Assistant Director - Lily Hasler
Originally from northwest Indiana, where she moved to Arizona to achieve her educational goals at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. During her degree programs, she worked for 5 years as a work-study in the Veterans Services Office certifying students and assisting them through their GI Bill applications. As a Vietnam Veteran dependent, Lily utilized the Chapter 35 GI Bill benefit to assist with her education. Upon attaining her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education with an emphasis on community impact, she taught in the greater Tucson area in an 8th grade humanities classroom. Moving back to the Chicago area in 2022, she worked as an SCO (school certifying official) for the online university of the University of Arizona Global Campus. Being familiar with the military student experience in higher education, she wanted to continue her passion for helping student veterans and dependents on their own educational journeys.
.jpg "MVSS Benefits Coordinator Joe Galeaz smiles for a headshot photo against a blue background wearing a grey jacket.")
Benefits Coordinator - Joe Galeaz
The newest addition to the MVSS staff, Joe, hails from Campus, IL. He enlisted in the United States Air Force following high school and served as a Boom Operator in the 349th Air Refueling Squadron at McConnell AFB, Kansas. After several deployments to Al Udeid AB in support of OIF and OEF, and one deployment to Morón AB, Joe separated honorably and returned to Chicagoland to pursue his BA in English here at Loyola University Chicago.
Upon graduation, Joe was selected as the 2023-2024 PGA WORKS Fellow for the Southern Ohio PGA, where he assisted in the administration of a veterans’ golf initiative, PGA HOPE. After the fellowship, Joe returned to Chicagoland once more and obtained his MS in Higher Education Administration & Policy at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy — his research project focused on military-friendly rhetoric & resources.
Now the Primary SCO for the office, Joe embraces the opportunity to assist the military affiliated community achieve educational goals and navigate their next mission in life
Director - Alex Pirila
Originally from Phoenix, AZ, where after high school he joined the United States Marine Corps as a rifleman in the infantry. Upon completing his training, Alex deployed to Bahrain as a member of the 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Team. Following his first deployment, Alex was sent to join "The Thundering Third" Battalion, Fourth Marines in 29 Palms, California. While with 3/4, Alex deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a team leader and squad leader, respectively.
Alex was honorably discharged from the Marines and returned to Phoenix to begin his academic studies. He has earned a bachelor's in exercise science from Arizona State University, and a master's degree in exercise psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, he has worked with a wide breadth of athletes from youth and high school to professional and US special operations. His research focused on the effects of exercise on PTSD in military servicemembers.
While he enjoyed working in a training facility, Alex missed the camaraderie and is thrilled to be working with student veterans.
Assistant Director - Lily Hasler
Originally from northwest Indiana, where she moved to Arizona to achieve her educational goals at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. During her degree programs, she worked for 5 years as a work-study in the Veterans Services Office certifying students and assisting them through their GI Bill applications. As a Vietnam Veteran dependent, Lily utilized the Chapter 35 GI Bill benefit to assist with her education. Upon attaining her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education with an emphasis on community impact, she taught in the greater Tucson area in an 8th grade humanities classroom. Moving back to the Chicago area in 2022, she worked as an SCO (school certifying official) for the online university of the University of Arizona Global Campus. Being familiar with the military student experience in higher education, she wanted to continue her passion for helping student veterans and dependents on their own educational journeys.
Benefits Coordinator - Joe Galeaz
The newest addition to the MVSS staff, Joe, hails from Campus, IL. He enlisted in the United States Air Force following high school and served as a Boom Operator in the 349th Air Refueling Squadron at McConnell AFB, Kansas. After several deployments to Al Udeid AB in support of OIF and OEF, and one deployment to Morón AB, Joe separated honorably and returned to Chicagoland to pursue his BA in English here at Loyola University Chicago.
Upon graduation, Joe was selected as the 2023-2024 PGA WORKS Fellow for the Southern Ohio PGA, where he assisted in the administration of a veterans’ golf initiative, PGA HOPE. After the fellowship, Joe returned to Chicagoland once more and obtained his MS in Higher Education Administration & Policy at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy — his research project focused on military-friendly rhetoric & resources.
Now the Primary SCO for the office, Joe embraces the opportunity to assist the military affiliated community achieve educational goals and navigate their next mission in life