InterviewBeyond gender, women’s colleges key to inclusive leadership in AI era

Sarah Willie-LeBreton, president of Smith College in Northampton, Mass. Courtesy of Smith College

Women's colleges are not relics of the past — they are models for the future. That is the argument Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton made during a recent visit to Korea as she called for a greater embrace of inclusive, human-centered leadership in the age of rapid technological change.

Founded in 1875, Smith College is one of the leading liberal arts institutions in the United States and one of the country's oldest private women's colleges, located in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Willie-LeBreton's visit — her first to Korea since taking office in 2023 — highlighted the growing role women's institutions play in shaping inclusive leadership, while also aiming to deepen ties with Korean universities.

Speaking on the role of higher education, particularly women’s colleges, she emphasized the importance of expanding global cooperation and partnerships with Korean universities as part of wider international engagement.

"Drawing on history, women across cultures have long taken on caregiving roles — an experience that offers a broader perspective beyond competition and speed, grounding innovation in the human aspects of life,” Willie-LeBreton said in an interview with The Korea Times.

“In a fast-evolving, technology-driven world, such perspectives are essential to ensuring that new ideas and systems are inclusive of those who might otherwise be left out.”

She noted that women’s colleges prepare students not only to succeed in fields such as science and law, but also to question who has access to those spaces — from laboratories to courtrooms — and who remains excluded from larger systems and decision-making.

“These are perspectives women can bring to the highest levels of leadership,” Willie-LeBreton said, adding that such approaches should be embraced across society.

U.S. higher education demonstrates a clear understanding of institutional roles, with a combination of public and private systems working together to advance access and equity.

Public universities carry a responsibility to remain open to all regardless of gender, income, religion or race, while some private colleges have historically focused on educating groups that faced systemic exclusion — including women and racial minorities — to help level the playing field.

“Such models are not about preferential treatment, but about ensuring equal access,” Willie-LeBreton said. “Students from underrepresented groups can gain much higher confidence and a much greater ability to master their academics.”

Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton, fourth from left, poses in hanbok with Smith alums and administrative staff at Rakkojae Culture Lounge in Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of Lee Hyo-won

While addressing Smith College’s role, she expressed hopes to strengthen global partnerships with Korean universities during her trip.

The college has a long tradition of enrolling students from across Asia, including Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand, reflecting the central role international students play in U.S. higher education at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Willie-LeBreton said maintaining a strong international student presence helps institution foster open-mindedness, sustaining intellectual vitality.

“Making sure we engage with Asia early in my presidency has been a priority,” she said.

Smith College currently runs exchange programs with Ewha Womans University and Yonsei University in Korea.

Willie-LeBreton expressed hope to deepen these partnerships by expanding two-way student exchanges, encouraging more Korean students to study at Smith while increasing opportunities for American students to study in Korea.

She noted that studying abroad offers American students a chance to expand their horizons.

“When you leave, you realize the world is much bigger," she said. "I hope to expand exchanges not only among students, but also alumni and faculty to strengthen academic collaboration.”

She also stressed the importance of bringing together students from diverse backgrounds, noting that such interactions play a key role in fostering mutual understanding.

“When students from different countries spend time together, they are less likely to see each other as competitors or enemies,” she said, adding that such exchanges carry important long-term implications in today’s global landscape.