In a moving ceremony at Western New England University School of Law, 51 individuals from 31 countries officially became U.S. citizens. Immediately afterward, 20 registered to vote, underscoring the connection between naturalization and civic engagement.

“Moments like this remind us of the strength of our democracy and the enduring promise of citizenship,” said Professor Julie E. Steiner, director of the Institute for Legislative and Government Affairs.

The event, hosted in the Blake Law Center Moot Courtroom, was organized with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and presided over by The Honorable Mark G. Mastroianni L’89, U.S. District Court judge. Speakers included Dean Zelda Harris and Steiner.

The ceremony aligned with Constitution Day and Citizenship Week and is part of the Institute’s Campaign for Democratic Principles. Law students assisted new citizens with voter registration and supported follow-up events, including a program on the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and a community forum featuring Ketanji Brown Jackson, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

This naturalization ceremony reflects WNE University School of Law’s commitment to civic engagement and connecting students, policymakers, and communities to the democratic process.