Faculty Feature: Professor Gina Lindsey
When Professor Gina Lindsey interviewed at Clinton Community College nearly 26 years ago, her decision to accept the position and move across the country didn’t come down to salary or other perks. It came down to people.
“I’m of the mind that morale isn’t just about benefits. It’s about feeling valued,” said Lindsey. “When I came to Clinton, I felt appreciated and welcomed. I knew the people here were committed to students, to our community and to each other.”
That first impression has remained a constant since her arrival in the year 2000.
“I’m continually impressed by the caliber of the colleagues I work with,” she said. “They put the community in community college.”
Lindsey was a newcomer to the East Coast, having been raised in the Pacific Northwest. She completed her undergraduate studies near Boise, Idaho, earned her master’s degree in Seattle and finished her doctoral coursework at the University of Utah.
Though she once imagined living by the ocean, Northern New York’s proximity to Vermont and Lake Champlain made the region an unexpected fit. Clinton became her professional home.
Ask Lindsey why she has stayed, and the answer is immediate: the students.
A humanities faculty member, Lindsey has taught public speaking, mass media, film, gender and women’s studies, and cross-listed courses such as film and literature. In recent years, she has also taught developmental reading and fundamentals of college success.
“That’s the beauty of a community college,” she said. “We meet students where they are and help them get where they want to go. Our students arrive with different strengths and needs. Watching them grow—from struggling to write a sentence to crossing the stage, transferring and thriving—that’s why we do this.”
Lindsey also serves as a bridge between institutions, teaching at SUNY Plattsburgh since 2001.
Outside the classroom, she is active in the region’s performing arts community, singing with a gospel choir and collaborating with Adirondack Regional Theater and Artistry Community Theater.
“People sometimes think our area is a cultural wasteland,” she said. “It’s not. We have a vibrant arts community here.”
Many of Lindsey’s students have gone on to excel beyond the classroom. When she was honored at a Girl Scouts Women of Distinction event, two former public speaking students were recognized the same evening, each delivering confident remarks.
“I sat there bawling,” said Lindsey. “Every semester someone says, ‘If I have to give a speech, I’m going to die.’ And then years later, they’re out in the world giving eloquent talks.”
For Lindsey, it all comes back to the community at Clinton Community College, reflected in the college’s motto, “We Work.”
“From faculty and staff to advisors and the registrar, everyone works incredibly hard to help students succeed,” she said.
The collaborative atmosphere helps shape the experience that every student has as they walk through Clinton’s doors.
“For so many people, it starts here,” said Lindsey. “We provide the support and encouragement students need to take the next step. Helping them believe in themselves is the most satisfying work I know.”