{"id":39831,"date":"2025-01-21T16:49:15","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T22:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/?p=39831"},"modified":"2025-02-25T17:11:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T23:11:59","slug":"new-american-initiative-showcases-personal-journeys-to-citizenship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/2025\/01\/new-american-initiative-showcases-personal-journeys-to-citizenship\/","title":{"rendered":"New American initiative showcases personal journeys to citizenship"},"content":{"rendered":"

UND CONNECT project sees students documenting New American stories for exhibit, Constitution Day naturalization ceremony\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Portrait
Associate Professor Joonghwa Lee (front, right) is leading Communication student interns (clockwise from back, left) Kiera Musil, Dylan Niemi and Lauren Huso in a multimedia project to document the personal stories of new Americans on their journey to U.S. citizenship. Next fall, a photo exhibit in the Memorial Union Gallery will showcase their work. The plan also calls for videos to be incorporated into the next UND-hosted naturalization ceremony on Constitution Day on Sept. 17. Photo by Janelle Vonasek\/UND Today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Editor\u2019s note:<\/strong>\u00a0In the\u00a0UND LEADS Strategic Plan<\/a><\/strong>, the\u00a0Service core value<\/strong><\/a> calls on UND to \u201cprovide curricular and co-curricular opportunities for UND students to give back and serve their communities.\u201d <\/em>This story, which originally appeared in UND Today on Jan. 21, describes a UND CONNECT project that sees students working hard to improve the lives of new North Dakotans.<\/em><\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Close-up
Photo by Janelle Vonasek\/UND Today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Outside one of the doors in O\u2019Kelly Hall, a red bulb lights up a small white box to illuminate two words printed vertically in all caps and on all three sides.<\/p>\n

\u201cON AIR\u201d the sign reads, a message to alert both passersby and students in the adjacent study space to keep the noise to a minimum.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s necessary, say Associate Professors Soojung Kim<\/strong><\/a> and Joonghwa Lee<\/strong><\/a>, because there\u2019s important work taking place inside Room 221. The small space with its freshly painted bright-blue wall is home to the UND Department of Communication\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> brand-new video production studio \u2014 and just down the hall and around the corner is its new state-of-the-art photo studio.<\/p>\n

Recently, the studios have seen a lot of action as Lee and a trio of student interns first had to build them from scratch and then painstakingly adjust and test the lights, cameras and sound equipment before beginning to document the stories of new Americans in an initiative dubbed \u201cCelebrating Constitution Day in North Dakota.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Students
Associate Professor Joonghwa Lee (second from right) shares some laughs with student interns Kiera Musil (from left), Lauren Huso and Dylan Niemi during one of their final practice runs. Photo by Soojung Kim, associate professor and chair of UND\u2019s Department of Communication.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lights, cameras and \u2026 taking action <\/em>with UND CONNECT<\/h2>\n

\u201cIt all started with some conversations with the President\u2019s and Provost\u2019s offices,\u201d said Kim, who also chairs the Communication Department within the College of Arts & Sciences<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cWe met initially with (Chief of Staff) Rob Carolin<\/strong><\/a> and (Director of Communications & Planning for Academic Affairs) Anna Clark<\/strong><\/a> because the president and provost wanted to find better ways to showcase the naturalization ceremony that UND hosts every year.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few years ago, President Andy Armacost established the annual campus tradition to coincide with Constitution Day on Sept. 17.<\/p>\n

But it was last June when the wheels for the New American initiative really started turning, Lee said. That was when administrators read an article about the Communication Department\u2019s Digital Storytelling Summit<\/strong><\/a> for North Dakota high school students. The weeklong summit was supported by the North Dakota Newspaper Association Education Foundation and will be supported again this year by the foundation and UND CONNECT<\/strong><\/a>, an initiative that provides faculty and students with opportunities to engage in community-based research and development projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey wondered if we could develop something similar to tell the stories of new Americans,\u201d Lee said. \u201cAt the time, they didn\u2019t know Soojung and I also were working toward citizenship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dylan
Videographer Dylan Niemi (from left), Digital Storytelling Coordinator Kiera Musil and Associate Director and Photographer Lauren Huso make some adjustments to their equipment in one of their final mock interview sessions. The new American initiative was made possible with funding from UND CONNECT, a grant program that provides faculty and students with opportunities to engage in community-based research and development projects. Photo by Soojung Kim, associate professor and chair of UND\u2019s Department of Communication.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

UND\u2019s own new Americans lead by example<\/h2>\n

The South Korean natives each swore their own Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony<\/strong><\/a> this past summer in Fargo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that we recently became U.S. citizens ourselves makes this project all the more meaningful for us to lead,\u201d Lee said. \u201cWe are so happy to be able to help share the stories of people from so many different cultures. Nourishing those community connections makes all of our lives richer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lee said the Provost\u2019s Office, the College of Arts & Sciences and the Communication Department provided the original seed money for the project, but he also applied for and won his own UND CONNECT<\/strong><\/a> grant to pay for additional equipment and software, as well as stipends for the student interns. The city of Grand Forks is collaborating on the project by helping to recruit new Americans to participate. The process begins with a simple questionnaire.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis project will serve as an examplar of Service, demonstrating UND\u2019s commitment to cultural diversity and to supporting underrepresented populations,\u201d Lee wrote in his original proposal. \u201cNotably, students will gain valuable insight into how they can contribute to local and state communities as well-trained communicators.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudents will have an opportunity to strengthen the communities in North Dakota by featuring the cultural and historical stories of new Americans. Moreover, this project will enable them to witness how their passion and talents can make a positive impact in local and state communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Students
The students have fun with a little role reversal as Videographer Dylan Niemi takes a seat in front of the blue screen and hands off the camera to Digital Storytelling Coordinator Kiera Musil, who ordinarily would sit in the interviewer chair opposite Niemi. Seated in the chair this time is Associate Director and Photographer Lauren Huso. Photo by Janelle Vonasek\/UND Today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Experiential learning at its best<\/h2>\n

And so far, the student interns say that opportunity has proved to be unmatched.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting this kind of experience with all of this advanced equipment has been incredible,\u201d said Communication<\/strong><\/a> senior Lauren Huso of Grand Rapids, Minn. She serves as the project\u2019s associate director and photographer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think many schools give their students this level of access and responsibility, where we\u2019re the ones producing the shots, setting everything up and also developing and asking all the questions. We\u2019re in control, and all of that hands-on work has helped me a lot,\u201d Huso said.<\/p>\n

Videographer and Communication senior Dylan Niemi of Eveleth, Minn., seconded that sentiment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely been interesting. I\u2019ve had classes and other internships where I\u2019ve been behind the camera, but I never expected anything like this,\u201d Niemi said. \u201cI just thought it was going to be one camera and a dream. I had no idea we\u2019d have this whole setup and a studio to ourselves. It\u2019s been really great to get my feet wet while working as a team to put together a whole project from beginning to end.\u201d<\/p>\n

And this from Communication sophomore and Digital Storytelling Coordinator Kiera Musil of Shakopee, Minn.: \u201cI think this is the first real thing<\/em> I can put into a portfolio and take to a job interview. That\u2019s going to be key in my professional future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lee says he\u2019s been nothing but impressed with his students and their ability to develop and execute a plan while also troubleshooting on their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy role has been to draw a blueprint for the house and then purchase the raw materials and tools,\u201d he said. \u201cThe students\u2019 role has been to build the actual house. They are learning how to use those tools and do everything. I could not be more proud of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Elizabeth
New American Elizabeth Morrison, a native of Paraguay, clutches miniature American and UND flags as student intern Lauren Huso, associate director and photographer on the project, zooms in for the shot. Over the spring semester, students plan to capture the personal stories of as many as 30 new Americans in what Associate Professor Joonghwa Lee hopes will become an ongoing project. Morrison recalled her own naturalization ceremony with these words: \u201cThat moment was like not even walking on the Earth because it was so unreal for me. It was at that moment when I truly realized that this is it \u2026 I\u2019m going to become an American, and that was one of my goals for a long time. I really wanted to make everything right, and I was so happy at that moment. It was May 2024, and I still feel like I\u2019m totally in the moment. I was very happy to become an American.\u201d Photo by Associate Professor Joonghwa Lee, UND Department of Communication.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One interview down, 29 new Americans to go<\/h2>\n

It took some time to order all the equipment and then learn how to use it, but after mockups and what seemed like endless practice runs, the team said their first \u201creal\u201d new American interview featuring Elizabeth Morrison of Paraguay has reached the editing floor.<\/p>\n

Turns out that Morrison has a UND connection. She\u2019s married to UND School of Law<\/strong><\/a> Professor and R. Johnson Fellow Steven Morrison<\/strong><\/a>. She first moved to the United States several years ago \u201cto pursue a one-year adventure and to discover new horizons.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her on-camera interview, the current paraprofessional at Grand Forks Central High School said she knew even after marriage that she wanted to make her U.S. citizenship official because she \u201cdesired stability and a stronger sense of belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first moved here, I felt like an outsider,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cBut over time, I built connections \u2014 both personally and professionally \u2014 and I wanted to fully integrate into the community. I also wanted the rights and privileges that come with citizenship, especially the right to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the interview, Morrison went on to describe the naturalization process and the hardships and challenges she faced along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecoming a U.S. citizen and being married to my husband, Steve, has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about the legal status or the benefits. It\u2019s about feeling like I truly belong in a country that has given me so many opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the journey was difficult at times, it was worth every step, and I\u2019m proud to call myself an American now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lee says he hopes to have the students produce a total of 30 interviews by next fall. As part of the project, the students also will create their own multimedia materials to promote a September photo exhibit in the Memorial Union Gallery. And the videos will be featured in the next campus naturalization ceremony on Sept. 17.<\/p>\n

\"Students
Digital Storytelling Coordinator Kiera Musil (seated) listens intently as she interviews new American and Paraguay native Elizabeth Morrison while fellow interns Lauren Huso (left) and Dylan Niemi keep a close eye on the cameras. Morrison, who is married to UND Law Professor Steven Morrison, was the first new American to take part in the project. Associate Professor Joonghwa Lee says the city of Grand Forks is collaborating on the project by helping to recruit new Americans to participate. The process begins with a simple questionnaire. Photo by Associate Professor Joonghwa Lee, UND Department of Communication.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New American initiative makes lasting connections<\/h2>\n

\u201cAfter I became a U.S. citizen and reflected on our own long journey, the one question I had was, \u2018What now? What should I do? What\u2019s the difference before<\/em> and after<\/em> citizenship?\u2019\u201d Lee said. \u201cThen, I thought, \u2018This project is what I can do for my community.\u2019 I\u2019m envisioning this as a long-term project. We can do this every year, so future generations can look back and hear the stories of their own parents and grandparents.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Well said. That\u2019s a wrap. You can turn the light off now.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

>><\/strong> Mark your calendar.<\/strong> The new American project will culminate with a photo exhibit in UND\u2019s Memorial Union Gallery on Sept. 8-19, and the videos will be incorporated into the next naturalization ceremony on Constitution Day on Sept. 17.<\/p>\n

>> Are you a new American?<\/strong> Or do you know of someone else with a story that needs to be told? Email Lee at joonghwa.lee@UND.edu<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

>><\/strong>\u00a0Do you want to read more UND Today stories?\u00a0<\/strong>Just\u00a0hit the link<\/strong><\/a> or go to our home page to subscribe to our twice-weekly newsletter.<\/p>\n

>>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Questions or comments\u00a0<\/strong>about the\u00a0UND LEADS Strategic Plan<\/a>?<\/strong>\u00a0Your thoughts are welcome! Please contact\u00a0Mike Wozniak<\/a><\/strong>, coordinator of Leadership & Programming, and\/or\u00a0Ryan Zerr<\/a><\/strong>, associate vice president for Strategy & Implementation, the co-chairs of the UND LEADS Implementation Committee. You also may offer your thoughts by visiting the\u00a0UND LEADS Strategic Plan home page<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and clicking on the \u201cProvide your feedback\u201d link.<\/p>\n

Thank you for your support of the UND LEADS Strategic Plan!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SERVICE strategic priority: Provide \u2018opportunities for UND students to give back and serve their communities\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":39837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[16,1134,1128],"class_list":["post-39831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-around-und","tag-arts-sciences","tag-connect","tag-service"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNew American initiative showcases personal journeys to citizenship - UND Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New American initiative records stories through voices, photos and video in project culminating with exhibits during week of Constitution Day\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/2025\/01\/new-american-initiative-showcases-personal-journeys-to-citizenship\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New American initiative showcases personal journeys to citizenship - 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Next fall, a photo exhibit in the Memorial Union Gallery will showcase their work. The plan also calls for videos to be incorporated into the next UND-hosted naturalization ceremony on Constitution Day on Sept. 17. 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