SOO-JIN KWOUN, PHD
Associate Professor of Music Therapy

From Iowa, Kwoun’s career took her to Oregon, Wisconsin and a second time to Iowa before she arrived in St. Louis to join the faculty at Maryville University, where Kwoun is now an associate professor of music therapy. “I didn’t know back then that I would stay at Maryville for the next 14 years,” she says. “In this community, with the students I love and the colleagues who inspire me every day, I found a home,” she says.

Kwoun began thinking about citizenship while teaching Community in Music Therapy, a course that emphasizes being an advocate for one’s clients, many of whom are in marginalized or minority populations—such
as people with disabilities, children and the elderly. “I started feeling like I needed to do things I preach to my students about taking an action beyond talking about it,” she says. She took the oath of U.S. citizenship on Sept. 12, accompanied by colleagues Charles Gulas, PhD, dean of the Walker College of Health Professions; Laura Beer, PhD, director of the music therapy program; and Susan Weber, PhD, adjunct instructor.

“Having them there made me realize that with all the support and care I receive from my colleagues and students, in a way I became an American a long time before the ceremony,” Kwoun says. “They’re my community.”

“I didn’t know back then that I would stay at Maryville for the next 14 years,” she says. “In this community, with the students I love and the colleagues who inspire me every day, I found a home,” she says. 

Kwoun began thinking about citizenship while teaching Community in Music Therapy, a course that emphasizes being an advocate for one’s clients, many of whom are in marginalized or minority populations—such as people with disabilities, children and the elderly. 

“I started feeling like I needed to do things I preach to my students about taking an action beyond talking about it,” she says. 

She took the oath of U.S. citizenship on Sept. 12, accompanied by colleagues Charles Gulas, PhD, dean of the Walker College of Health Professions; Laura Beer, PhD, director of the music therapy program; and Susan Weber, PhD, adjunct instructor. 

“Having them there made me realize that with all the support and care I receive from my colleagues and students, in a way I became an American a long time before the ceremony,” Kwoun says. “They’re my community.” 

ANURADHA VUMMENTHALA, PHD   Assistant Professor of Chemistry

During the ceremony, she recalls, “I got to sing the national anthem, salute the flag and receive my certificate. I felt proud and had a feeling of achievement.” Her decision to become a naturalized citizen was something of a family affair. Her husband and the couple’s eldest son also became citizens in the same week; their younger son was born here, and is therefore automatically a citizen. “I wanted to become a citizen so I can voice my opinion in the policies of the country where I’m living. I felt like I needed to become a citizen to actively participate in the well-being of this country,” Vummenthala says.

“Of course, I am doing a service by teaching students and encouraging their scientific inquisitiveness, but I want to participate more actively.” Vummenthala moved to St. Louis five years ago to join Maryville’s faculty. She was surprised to learn, on the day she took her oath, that another faculty member—Soo-Jin Kwoun, PhD, associate professor of music therapy—had also participated in the ceremony. Because her husband could not be there, Vummenthala had attended the momentous occasion alone. “But after all I did not feel alone because at the end of ceremony, I met Chuck Gulas (dean of Maryville’s College of Health Professions),” she says. “He came to encourage another faculty member (Kwoun), so I was not alone. I was happy to have part of my Maryville family there.”

“I didn’t know back then that I would stay at Maryville for the next 14 years,” she says. “In this community, with the students I love and the colleagues who inspire me every day, I found a home,” she says. 

Kwoun began thinking about citizenship while teaching Community in Music Therapy, a course that emphasizes being an advocate for one’s clients, many of whom are in marginalized or minority populations—such as people with disabilities, children and the elderly. 

“I started feeling like I needed to do things I preach to my students about taking an action beyond talking about it,” she says. 

She took the oath of U.S. citizenship on Sept. 12, accompanied by colleagues Charles Gulas, PhD, dean of the Walker College of Health Professions; Laura Beer, PhD, director of the music therapy program; and Susan Weber, PhD, adjunct instructor. 

“Having them there made me realize that with all the support and care I receive from my colleagues and students, in a way I became an American a long time before the ceremony,” Kwoun says. “They’re my community.” 

NATURALIZATION OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”