In a moving ceremony held at the WNE School of Law, 51 individuals from 31 different countries officially became U.S. citizens, taking the Oath of Allegiance before family, friends, and members of the campus community. Immediately following the ceremony, 20 of the new citizens registered to vote, underscoring the powerful connection between naturalization and civic participation.
The event, hosted in the Blake Law Center Moot Courtroom with overflow seating in the Law Commons, was organized in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Presiding over the ceremony was the Honorable Mark G. Mastroianni, L’89, judge for the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts.
Speakers included Zelda Harris, Dean and Professor of Law, and Julie E. Steiner, Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Legislative and Government Affairs, which sponsored the ceremony as part of its Fall 2025 Series on Democratic Principles.
“Moments like this remind us of the strength of our democracy and the enduring promise of citizenship,” said Steiner. “It is a privilege for Western New England University School of Law to welcome new citizens and to affirm the vital role civic engagement plays in our communities.”
The ceremony coincided with Constitution Day (September 17) and Citizenship Week, times set aside nationally to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. In today’s climate, when immigration and democracy remain at the center of national dialogue, the event highlighted both the personal milestones of the participants and the broader importance of democratic participation.
Campaign for Democratic Principles
In keeping with the Institute’s mission to strengthen democratic engagement, WNE law students assisted new citizens with voter registration immediately after the ceremony. The event is one of several in the Institute’s fall series, which continues with:
- Oct. 1: Celebrating 60 Years of Voting Rights – A Legacy of Justice and Equality, a Lunch & Learn facilitated by Professor Bridgette Baldwin.
- Oct. 27: Justice Talk featuring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson at Springfield Symphony Hall, presented by the Springfield Public Forum and sponsored in part by WNE School of Law’s Institute for Legislative and Government Affairs.
