For immediate release
June 2, 2026
Belmont, MA – Sarah Willie-LeBreton, president of Smith College, was elected chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM) for the 2026-2027 term, with Sunil Kumar, president of Tufts University, elected Vice-Chair.
AICUM also welcomed two new members elected to join the Board: Beth Ross, Emmanuel College, and Eric Turner, president of Lasell University, who will serve as Secretary and Treasurer.
All appointments are effective June 1, 2026.
President Willie-LeBreton succeeds Bentley University President E. LaBrent Chrite, who will serve ex-officio.
President Willie-LeBreton was appointed the 12th president of Smith College in 2023. She earned a B.A. from Haverford College, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University, all in sociology. She taught at Colby and Bard Colleges before being tenured at Swarthmore College, where she spent 26 years, concluding with her appointment as provost and dean of the faculty. An accomplished administrator, scholar, and sociologist who studies race and ethnicity and social inequality, Willie-LeBreton is known for her commitment to the liberal arts, strengthening community, and energizing the work of equity and inclusion.
The 2026-2027 AICUM Board of Directors:
Officers
Chair: Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Smith College
Vice-Chair: Sunil Kumar, Tufts University
Secretary/Treasurer: Eric Turner, Lasell University
E. LaBrent Chrite, Bentley University, ex-officio
Vince Rougeau, College of the Holy Cross
Beth Ross, Emmanuel College
Mary-Beth Cooper, Springfield College
Yves Salomon-Fernández, Urban College of Boston
Mark Thompson, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Grace Wang, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
About the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts
AICUM represents 56 independent colleges and universities throughout the Commonwealth, educating more than 285,000 students each year and employing nearly 100,000. Our members include large nationally renowned research universities, smaller, highly regarded liberal arts colleges, religiously affiliated institutions, and colleges with special missions focused on business or music or allied health services. AICUM plays a critical role in advocating for college affordability, including state and federal funding for need- based student financial aid, federal research support and addressing state and federal legislative and regulatory issues.
Contact:
Sonya.Hagopian@aicum.org
617.742.5147