She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon and a master's and Ph.D. degree from Indiana University. She is an active member in both AEJMC, where she currently serves on the Professional Freedom and Responsibility committee, and in the International Communication Association, where she is co-chair of the Gay,Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Studies Interest Group. Lafky is a founding member of the Feminist Teacher Editorial Collective, which publishes the journal, Feminist Teacher. She also teaches a Feminist Pedagogy course for the Ph.D. program in Women's Studies at Iowa.