Professor Jane England in 1975. (Reinhardt University Archives)
Some faculty members don’t just teach; they shape the way students think forever.
For Professor Jane England (1933-2007), educating went beyond the disciplines of history and political science. Teaching could awaken curiosity, shape thinkers, and inspire a love of learning that resonates for decades.
When Dr. Ken Wheeler, now Reinhardt’s Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, first joined the faculty, England neared the close of her 31-year celebrated career. “We overlapped by just a couple of years,” he recalls. “I was a young professor, and she was wrapping up her time here. We had lovely conversations about teaching and our intellectual interests.” At the time, Wheeler simply admired her generosity — a seasoned scholar taking time for a newcomer. Only later did he realize just how deep her influence ran.
Years after those first talks, Wheeler found himself paging through old Hiltonians, the once celebrated student newspaper. “They were sensational,” he said.
The 1971 Hiltonian staff with Jane England (front row, second from right). (Reinhardt University Archives)
“The writing was sharp, the ideas mature. When I saw a photo of the staff with their faculty advisor, a young Jane England, it clicked. She was why that newspaper was so good. You could see it in her face — the pride, the care, the high expectations. That’s when I understood what she meant to generations of students.”
Dr. Curt Lindquist, longtime Reinhardt professor of history, echoes those observations with vivid memories of England’s creativity and spirit. “She loved getting students to look at history differently,” he said. “Most professors start at the beginning of Western civilization—with Greece or Rome—and move forward. But Jane once taught history in reverse, starting with the present and tracing events backward. It was imaginative, and it challenged students to see connections between the past and the present.”
Rev. Allen Stewart (RU-1985) and Professor Jane England during the Centennial Scholars trip to Greece. (Reinhardt University Archives)
Her unconventional teaching methods mirrored her equally expansive vision for learning. Lindquist recalls her enthusiastic support for study-abroad programs in the 1980s and 1990s, on journeys that spanned Europe and Africa, including stops in Greece and Italy. “She realized that history came alive when you were standing where it happened,” he said. “She wanted students to see and touch the places they had studied.”
Professor Jane England (1933-2007). (Reinhardt University Archives)
England’s passion for research is legendary. “Her office was filled with the results of her research,” Wheeler recalls. “You’d sit in a chair surrounded by boxes of documents, archival findings, and papers collected over a lifetime.” The overflow of materials eventually spread into an unused office nearby. Lindquist remarks with a smile, “She had so many books and collections that she kind of claimed a second space. That was Jane — always searching, always collecting knowledge.”
England’s students remember her rigor as much as her warmth. “She could be gruff at times,” Lindquist admitted, “but only because she took the work seriously. She believed history mattered — that it could shape the way you understand the present.” She was known for calling on students unexpectedly, pushing them to think critically and be prepared. Yet beneath that toughness was deep care and respect for the learning process.
Professor Jane England leads a commencement procession. (Reinhardt University Archives)
Though she’s no longer with us, Professor Jane England’s spirit still shapes Reinhardt. Her legacy lives on through the Jane England Teaching Excellence Award, one of the University’s highest honors. The award recognizes faculty members who embody the same creativity, rigor, and dedication that defines her career.
“It’s an honor to receive that award,” Wheeler said. “It recognizes what professors bring to our students today, but it’s also a reminder that we’re all shaped by those who came before us. People like Jane set the standard, and that legacy continues.”
Professor Jane England. (Reinhardt University Archives)
Jane England’s story exemplifies lifelong curiosity, creativity, and compassion — that love of teaching is a powerful force. It’s a love that outlives classrooms and still shapes the way Reinhardt students grow and flourish.
The Give to Love Annual Fund Campaign celebrates members of the Reinhardt University community whose passion, service, and leadership embody the University’s mission, vision, and values. Jane England’s life and legacy serves as a reminder that education can ignite passion in every student through engaged teaching.
Let your love for Reinhardt inspire a contribution today, in honor of faculty members like Jane England who shaped minds, changed lives, and set an enduring standard of excellence.
