Remembering Dr. Leslie J. Thornton II
Nov 12, 2024
Remembrance for SIETAR USA
Dr. Leslie J. Thornton II
September 15, 1946, to December 5, 2023
“Leslie Thornton II, age 77, died peacefully at home in Ann Arbor, Michigan on December 5, 2023. Les earned an undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies from Michigan State University and a Master of Social Work and Ph.D. in education from the University of Michigan. He was a beloved professor at UM-Dearborn from 1991-2013. He was a professor of multicultural education and served as an academic adviser for countless graduate students.“
The quotation above is the beginning of Les’ official obituary. It goes on to describe his passion for teaching, his students, and his love for travel. These are the facts. However, I believe SIETARians deserve to remember and celebrate the essence of Les, not merely the facts.
I met Les when our sons were kindergarteners. He was deeply involved with a group of parents attempting to begin an “open education” program within the traditional school system. He was already a seasoned interculturalist and educational professional. I was a newbie, but he always listened to my ideas respectfully. We eventually succeeded in beginning the program. I continued working to assist with molding the school, but Les backed away. He was more interested in creating the change…seeing how something could be better, working to get it moving, and, if he was successful…going on to something else. That desire to improve education, society, and the world was a driving force in Les’ life.
For several years I heard Les speak about an organization called SIETAR. He raved about a conference in Ireland and mentioned being on the Governing Board. It sounded exotic and fascinating but not relevant to my professional life. In the early 90’s, when Les served as the chair of the conference in Jamaica, he convinced me to attend. Thus began my involvement in SIETAR International. Les challenged me to incorporate what I learned at the various conferences with my own nascent training/teaching career. In those days, leaders didn’t understand how intercultural practices and knowledge could be useful in a “not multicultural” environment. To combat their resistance, I created what I called “stealth training,” incorporating interculturalism in a manner so no one knew that’s what they were learning. Les, of course, was delighted by the guerilla methodology. For him, the key was to always tell the students the unvarnished truth, no matter how it was accomplished.
As the years progressed, academia changed, funds for multicultural programs got cut or eliminated and it became increasingly difficult for Les to travel or be involved with SIETAR USA. He eventually made peace with that. After all, his passion was in nudging, visioning, and doing the difficult intellectual work of creating, not in the day-to-day minutia of running that creation.
During his memorial, family, friends, colleagues, and students spoke about Les’ intellectual prowess. Of how he changed their lives by challenging them while always staying true to who he was. His belief in a multicultural society never diminished. SIETAR USA’s Mission Statement says we are an “interdisciplinary community that supports transformational growth, intercultural understanding, and professional interchange with a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice.” Those core values resided deep in the soul of Les Thornton and guided his life.
A SIETAR International Board and Council meeting at the Boston Conference, 1994. Les is 3rd from the left in the back row.
Long before most of the professional world even knew what being intercultural meant before diversity, equity, and inclusion were a goal, Dr. Leslie J Thornton was a living and breathing embodiment of them. SIETAR and the professionals within created an intercultural and emotional home for him. The intercultural field and SIETAR are a bit smaller losing one of its lions. My life is a bit smaller losing my North Star. Les’ love of SIETAR rubbed off on me and, I believe, changed both our lives. He was a mentor, friend, and colleague who relished nothing more than a good battle of ideas. I miss those spars. I suspect many of us do. Thank you, Les. Your memory lives in us all.
Written by Dr. Deborah Orlowski
SIETAR USA member, Chair of the SIETAR USA 2020 Conference
