EIU selects Flaherty as next VP for Student Affairs
Jun-03-2020
(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University has selected Dr. Anne Flaherty as the university’s next Vice President for Student Affairs.
“Eastern Illinois University has a long, storied tradition of creating wonderful relationships with students, and I am looking very forward to being a part of the EIU community and contributing to EIU’s rich culture,” Flaherty said. “EIU takes its commitment to student inclusivity and engagement very seriously. Student Affairs is a large part of that commitment, and one I’m proud and excited to lead in these efforts.”
Flaherty added that she is also an advocate for holistic health and student well-being, as well as creating inclusive communities where all students feel respected and safe.
“This is my commitment to students and their families and will be my highest priority, especially important in these difficult and uncertain times.”
EIU President Dr. David Glassman said he is looking forward to Flaherty’s anticipated contributions.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that Dr. Flaherty will be joining our team here at EIU,” Glassman said. “Her broad expertise and career experience will benefit EIU and its diverse student population, and we’re very pleased to have her join us in her leadership capacity as Vice President of Student Affairs.”
Flaherty comes to EIU from Washington University (WashU) in St. Louis, where she served as senior consultant for the Division of Student Affairs. In that role, she provided direct support and project management to the division, assisting under-resourced and first-generation students, coordination of emergency protocols, and overseeing the emergency student funds processes. Prior to her senior consultant role, Flaherty served as WashU’s Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Support, where she oversaw student support functions intended to provide a holistic approach to student well-being—including student-based physical health and promotion, mental health and wellness, and medical and pharmacy services as a direct report to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and member of the senior leadership team. At WashU, Flaherty also served as Interim Assistant Dean of Students and Director, where she offered consultation and follow-up services for relevant parties and high-risk students.
Prior to her time at WashU, Flaherty also held roles as Dean of Student Life in the Division of Student Affairs and Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean at Butler University in Indianapolis. She also served as Assistant Dean for Medical Student Affairs at Indiana University School of Medicine, and has held a variety of Student Affairs and instructional positions throughout her career, including at the University of Kansas and Park (College) University in Missouri.
As an executive leader, Flaherty has been responsible for institutional decision-making and strategic planning initiatives related to budget, campus climate, student life, risk management, safety, enrollment and retention, and campus programs and services. She also has been heavily involved with NASPA, an organization comprising of high-performing Student Affairs administrators that drive innovation and evidence-based, student-centered practice throughout higher education both nationally and globally.
Throughout her career, Flaherty’s focus has been creating and sustaining student-centered, inclusive communities through strategic, collaborative partnerships with faculty members and academic affairs professionals that reinforce opportunities for student success. As a Student Affairs leader, she has intimate knowledge of Title IX compliance issues, a strong understanding of student conduct and community standards, and a commitment to fulfilling federal and state obligations for protecting student privacy and confidentiality rights. As a long-serving Student Affairs professional, Flaherty has dedicated her time to countless programs and services intended to serve and empower students to thrive in a supportive higher education environment.
Flaherty earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration with a minor in Health Policy and Management from the University of Kansas in 2011. Flaherty has also earned an M.S. in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Student Affairs (University of Kansas) and a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology (University of Iowa).
Flaherty currently resides in Zionsville, Indiana with her partner, Steve, and three sons, one of whom is first-year college student. A lifelong Midwesterner raised in southeast Iowa, she is proud to be an active member of the various communities she has resided in, and looks forward to doing the same as a new resident in the Charleston, Illinois community.
Flaherty’s new role as Vice President of Student Affairs at EIU will begin in late July. She will replace Lynette Drake, who has plans to retire in July after a 33-year long career in EIU’s Student Affairs unit, and who has twice served the University as its Interim Vice President of Student Affairs in 2005 and again from 2016 to 2020.
For more information about EIU, or to learn more about its growing assortment of programs and services, visit the university’s website at www.eiu.edu, or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.
