Luke Flaherty (1940–2011)

Luke FlahertyThe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences mourns the loss of Luke Flaherty, who served as Director of our Office of Academic Programs and Student Development from 1984 to 2009. Luke died on Sunday, September 25.

Luke’s professional career was devoted to helping students succeed at the University. He helped students negotiate academic policies, overcome obstacles to their academic progress, and meet the College’s academic standards. He worked to ease students’ transitions from Iowa’s high schools and community colleges to the University, and was a strong advocate of academic accommodations for students with disabilities.

Helena Dettmer, CLAS Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Development, paid this tribute to her colleague: “Luke was a highly compassionate person who dealt with some of the most difficult problems students encounter and who gave guidance to our faculty on these issues as well. He was able to balance fairness and respect for students with upholding the standards that make the College what it is.”

Luke served the University as a key member of many committees, including the Regents’ International Study Council, the Regents’ Committee on Educational Relations, and campus-wide committees dealing with information exchange and innovation in institutional record keeping. Luke was also an active participant in the CIC Assistant and Associate Deans group and had many close friends among his colleagues throughout the conference.

Luke was recognized for his administrative leadership and commitment to the University, its students, and the State of Iowa. He received a Regents Staff Excellence Award in 2005 and the UI’s Lola Lopes Award for Student Advocacy in 2008.

Luke completed the PhD in English at The University of Iowa in 1977, with a dissertation on the novels of Virginia Wolfe. He was a loyal friend and alumnus of the English Department, most notably in establishing a dissertation research scholarship in memory of his doctoral advisor, Professor Frederick P. W. McDowell. Department Chair Claire Sponsler said, “Luke was a constant and generous presence in the lives of many English department students and faculty, making it easier for students to pursue their dreams.”

Luke taught at Benedictine College, Kansas, and at The University of Iowa. He also served as Assistant Director of Graduate Programs in UI’s Tippie College of Business from 1982 to 1984.

A memorial service is being planned. Funeral arrangements are being made by Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service http://www.lensingfuneral.com/.