Professors do more than teach. They change lives. For Dr. Susan Buice (RU-1977), that person was Harriett Almond Lindsey (1946-2016), the professor whose laughter, faith, and kindness rekindled a lost spark.
Dr. Susan Buice as a student in 1976 (Reinhardt University Archives)
In the winter of 1976, Susan walked into her first Reinhardt classroom, unsure of what she wanted or who she was becoming. A discouraging high-school experience had shaken her confidence, and she entered college with no plan and little enthusiasm. However, the scholarship enabling her to attend Reinhardt opened a door, and behind the door was Harriett Almond Lindsey, who changed everything that followed.
Professor of Education and Psychology Harriett Almond Lindsey, in 1975. (Reinhardt University Archives)
Lindsey was unlike any teacher Buice had known. She asked her students to call her “Harriett,” not “Ms. Lindsey.” She wore flowing skirts and round glasses and laughed often — a warm, contagious sound filling any room. In Introduction to Education, Lindsey taught more than the mechanics of learning; she taught students how to be compassionate, curious, and confident.
Often, students gathered in Lindsey’s office to talk about life and what they hoped to become. She listened deeply and believed fiercely in their potential. “Harriett didn’t just see a classroom full of students,” Buice said. “She saw people who would make an impact. She supplied the knowledge and lifted us up with the self-worth it takes to keep going.”
When students doubted themselves, Lindsey had four simple words: You can do it. The words became a mantra, passed from her students to the students in their own classrooms. “I often caught myself saying the same thing to my own students,” Buice said. “It seems small, but it’s vital in teaching and in life.”
Intro to Ed became Buice’s favorite class. She enrolled in every course Lindsey taught. At the time, Harriett was the entire education department — one woman building a program from the ground up. Through her guidance, Susan rediscovered her love of learning and her calling to teach. “She wasn’t just teaching us the foundations of education,” Buice later said. “She was modeling what being a good teacher really looks like.”
Professor of Education and Psychology Harriett Almond Lindsey, in 1988. (Reinhardt University Archives)
In those days, Reinhardt awarded only associate’s degrees, but even after graduation, Lindsey kept shaping the future. When Reinhardt students wanted to complete four-year degrees without leaving campus, she made it happen by partnering with Brenau College to create a new pathway. Within a year, a dozen Reinhardt students, including Buice, became the first to earn bachelor’s degrees through Brenau while studying right at home.
Lindsey celebrated every milestone with her students. Her handwritten letters of encouragement became treasured keepsakes, often arriving just when they were needed most. One note changed Susan’s life forever: “As picky as I am, I can find nothing wrong with this paper. Please promise me that you will get your doctorate degree one day.”
Professor Harriett Almond Lindsey and Dr. Susan Buice (RU-1977).
It took 36 years, but Buice kept that promise. When she handed Lindsey a copy of her completed dissertation, her mentor’s joy was unforgettable. “Harriett saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself,” Buice said. “She restored my faith in learning and in who I could become.”
Lindsey’s influence multiplied across generations. Her students became teachers who inspired others. Her laughter echoed through classrooms, and her belief in possibility lived on in every lesson they taught.
Today, her legacy continues through the Harriett Almond Lindsey Scholarship, created by Dr. Buice and Dr. Ann Smith to honor the woman who built a foundation for so many. Each gift helps a new education student follow that same path — with courage, curiosity, and love.
When you give to the Fund for Reinhardt, you invest in the legacy of inspirational teaching and learning. Open doors for students who change lives, just as Lindsey did. Give today, and help the next generation find their voice, confidence, and calling.
