Syracuse Sun

Sarah Willie-LeBreton, the 12th president of Smith College, is set to deliver remarks at the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 26. The event holds personal significance for Willie-LeBreton due to her family's connection with the civil rights leader.

Her father, Charles V. Willie, was Syracuse University's first Black full professor and a friend of Martin Luther King Jr., dating back to their time as classmates at Morehouse College. During King's visit to Syracuse University in July 1965, Charles Willie introduced him to an audience of over 1,000 people.

Charles Willie shared a memorable anecdote during that introduction: "If he and his wife, Mary Sue (Conklin) Willie ’59, were ever blessed with a male heir, they would name him Martin: 'in honor of Martin Buber...and in honor of Martin King.'" This comment became prophetic when five months later, the couple welcomed a son named Martin.

Willie-LeBreton reflects on these connections and King's legacy during the upcoming celebration at the JMA Wireless Dome. She states, “It’s hard to put into words how special this is...knowing that my dad had invited Dr. King to speak at Syracuse University and now I’m speaking on campus as part of this special celebration.”

Tickets for this annual event are still available.

In an interview with SU News, Willie-LeBreton discussed her father's influence on her career and leadership skills development. She recalled being inspired by his work at Syracuse University and attending sociology conferences where he presented.

She emphasized how her parents taught conflict resolution through family discussions: "My siblings and I were not allowed to storm out of a room or slam a door if we had an argument or a conflict."

Willie-LeBreton's interest in inequality across various dimensions has fueled her work in higher education. She focuses on improving student experiences related to inequality: "Excellence in research...depends on having people from a variety of backgrounds."