Remembering her legacy: a tribute to Lindsey Fields

“By meeting Lindsey Fields, my life path was forever changed.”  

Joseph LaForge came to Butler Community College as a student thinking that he would major in English. He’s now a biology professor. In between those two goals was Lindsey Fields.  

Fields, Biology professor at Butler and department chair, was a one-of-a-kind professor and it showed in her students’ successes. In late January of 2025, Fields was one of the 60 passengers that lost their lives on Flight 5342. Her legacy, commitment towards students and passion about Butler and biology will always be remembered.  

“I would literally not be in this seat in this office without Lindsey Fields. I took a general biology class not as a biology major, and her love of biology showed me that there is something special here and [that] I needed to be a biologist too,”
said LaForge.  

LaForge decided to become an English major originally as he loved stories whether it was spoken or written. He felt the same sense of storytelling in language was evident in biology, just in a different way.  

Fields was not only passionate about her students but also how important and impactful biology truly is. LaForge wanted students to experience the same love of biology and influential teaching principles that he had witnessed when sitting in Fields’ classroom.  

“I want it to be more like [a journey] and less like a lecture hall. People have their own stories and they’re not just students sitting in a chair; they’re people with hopes and paths and ambitions.”  

Fields was a professor that every student dreams of having. She was known [for] making hard days feel normal and always had a smile on her face.   

“When I was a student, she would have a reusable water bottle,” said LaForge.  

“She would run over and take a drink from [her] water bottle then run back to the PowerPoint and start talking about biology again. I find myself doing that same exact thing, like I take a brisk sip of water and then I get back to it.”    

The biology department has a lab dedicated to her on the Andover campus and a peace lily (that was donated) in the Anatomy and Physiology lab on the El Dorado campus. These serve as a signpost of all the great accomplishments that Fields made.  

“We are continuing to try to make biology education the best that it can be. She taught with a lot of heart, so we all try to teach with the same amount of heart. We won’t ever be able to replicate Lindsey Fields.” LaForge said.  

“She just had a special way of teaching, but we are really trying to create a space where students feel seen, where they
feel wanted.” 

Photos by: Kaylin Bergeron and the Butler Marketing team

Notes from students and faculty talking about former Butler Community College professor, Lindsey Fields.

Butler Community College's Biology professor, Lindsey Fields' door that is covered with notes from students and faculty. 

A table with flowers, notes, and pins that memorialize who Lindsey Fields was. 

A table filled with candles, handwritten notes, and flowers to remember Lindsey Fields.

An assortment of candles and handwritten notes left on a table for Lindsey Fields.

A handwritten sticky note left on Fields' door.

A handwritten note left of Lindsey Fields' door.

An assortment of purple and orange pins to depict Lindsey Fields' alma maters. 

A notepad with a handwritten note.

A photo of Biology professor Joseph LaForge and Lindsey Fields 

Butler Community College student Zachary Foes and Biology professor Lindsey Fields holding an award together.