This article was originally published in the October 2023 print edition.
Sarah Willie-LeBreton was inaugurated as Smith College’s 12th president on Oct. 21, 2023. Her inauguration was the culmination of a two-day celebration across campus that included lectures, art installations, musical performances and a dance party. Willie-LeBreton was selected as President last spring after a lengthy process. While she has been acting as president since the beginning of the semester, she did not formally take office until Saturday Oct. 21.
The Indoor Track and Tennis Facility (ITT), where the ceremony was held, was packed with Smith faculty, staff and students, as well as members of the larger Northampton community. Many people joined via the livestream, too.
“There have only been 12 inaugurations,” said Isa Lentz ’26J, who brought a family member. “It’s cool to have one during my time here.”
The ceremony began at 2:00 p.m., when the procession of faculty members in full regalia made their way to the stage, Willie-LeBreton among them. Willie-LeBreton was introduced by a number of Smith faculty and staff, as well as the chair of the Board of Trustees Alison Overseth ’80. Also included in the greetings were virtual welcomes from Ruth J. Simmons, President Emerita (1995-2001), and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
After remarks from Gina-Louise Sciarra ’96, Mayor of Northampton, and two of Willie-LeBreton’s former colleagues, former presidents of Smith presented her with the symbols of office. Then, Willie-LeBreton took to the podium to give her inaugural address.
“This is a challenging time to be in higher education, whether you are a student, a faculty member, a staff member or a president,” she began. “My conviction is clear. Education is essential if we are to create a just world, and my charge is to steward this community towards its ongoing potential.”
Willie-LeBreton focused on the importance of Smith’s liberal arts-style curriculum, saying that “the liberal arts education we provide is a perfect antidote to the division, threats to democracy, diminishing of rights and freedoms, violent and natural catastrophes to which we wake up on a daily basis.”
“Smith is a college of and for the world,” she said, listing the names of notable alumnae such as Evelyn Boyd Granville ’45, one of NASA’s “hidden figures,” and Tammy Baldwin ’84, a Wisconsin senator, both of whom contributed greatly to their fields. She called on them to demonstrate the relevance of a Smith-style curriculum that “leverages synergies among the social sciences, arts and humanities and natural sciences.”
Throughout her speech, Willie-LeBreton repeated her call to action to educators and students alike. “Yes, it is a difficult time to be in higher education,” she said. “But at Smith, […] we will not be distracted from our work, because we know that the world yearns for interventions and solutions that lift up communities and make us better.”
“As educators, we have an opportunity to prepare students, our future leaders, for a new paradigm of living together harmoniously,” she said. She stressed the importance of justice to that paradigm, saying, “We have an opportunity to challenge the narrative of winners and losers and emphasize instead a collective sense of justice and the recognition that as a people, we have enough. Indeed, we have enough to share.”
“Today, it is my hope that the spirit of Sophia Smith delights in the education we provide here and the promise of justice it offers. May that spirit marvel at who we are now and revel in the individuals and community we are becoming,” said Willie-LeBreton to conclude her inauguration speech. “And when in my dreams, Sophia whispers, ‘What’s it like?’ I will answer her with joy and with pith, ‘Oh Sophia, it’s grand to be the president of Smith!’”
President Sarah, as she is called by the student body, can often be seen walking around campus and is a frequent face at student events. “You have hugged me, high-fived me on Thursdays, fist bumped me on Fridays and saluted me on Saturdays,” Willie-LeBreton said to students in her speech, thanking them for welcoming her into the Smith community. “You have shared ice cream, donuts and so many selfies […] You have quite frankly overrun my office hours and challenged me to think with you on how to improve Smith. I am grateful for all of it. All of it.”
Willie-LeBreton has been a hit with Smith students so far. “She seems really excited about actually doing stuff, and she’s actually interested in talking to us,” said Cameron Darling ’25.
“I really like her,” echoed Lentz. “I see her around campus and she waves to everyone. She is present at events, and she wants to get to know everyone.”
“She has a nice smile!” Romy Negrin ’24 added.
Vanessa Nicole Silva-Burgos ’24, president of the Student Government Association, expressed in her introductory remarks her feelings on the inauguration and what she hopes Wille-LeBreton will accomplish. “This year, in this moment, with President Willie-LeBreton’s presence and leadership — I am inspired and full of hope to continue learning and practicing tenacity as we heal, build community and work towards a more just and equitable campus,” she said.
Negrin summed it up neatly. “She’s a net positive,” she said. “It’s going to be a good time.”
