Feature: Professor becomes U.S. citizen

A 2005 survey found 752 international faculty members at MU.

By Joey Vergara

Published Sept. 22, 2006

This past Friday morning, Alan Strathman woke up a Canadian who had lived in the United States for 30 years. That night, he went to bed an American citizen.

"I think for a lot of people it seems funny that I would wait 30 years to do it, but it was just that gradual process," he said. "Moving as a kid, I sort of hung onto that Canadian identity for a while, and then, it just slowly but surely became more of an American identity. Now seemed like the time that I wanted to do it."

For the past six months Strathman, an MU psychology professor, has worked through the rigorous naturalization process. In a ceremony held at the Kansas City Courthouse Friday, Strathman swore an oath to the Constitution and was pronounced a citizen.

"It was fascinating seeing people from so many different cultures all becoming U.S. citizens," Strathman said. "I think many people born in the U.S. take their citizenship for granted."

Strathman said the people who went through the naturalization process appreciate their U.S. citizenship.

"Everyone was pretty quiet in the courtroom, due to the austerity of the room and surroundings, I think, but were clearly happy when the ceremony was over," he said.

The decision to apply for citizenship came as he stopped thinking of himself as a Canadian living in the United States. Born in Windsor, Ontario, Strathman lived in Canada for 12 years before moving to the suburbs of Chicago in July 1976. He began teaching graduate school in 1985 and became an MU psychology professor in 1990.

Strathman said he felt conflicted by his position in the United States following the Sept. 11 attacks. Even though he was a Canadian citizen, he said he could not help but respond emotionally to the day's events.

"It sort of felt like, if it felt that personal, maybe that was a sign that I felt more American than I felt Canadian," Strathman said.

A fall 2005 survey conducted by the International Center reported 752 international faculty members representing 70 countries at MU. According to the report, international faculty members are "mainly exchange visitors and temporary workers engaged in teaching and research."

For other faculty members, such as Spanish teacher Jose Louis Escorcia, U.S. citizenship isn't a top priority.

Attracted by the MU campus, Escorcia said he came to the U.S. from Barranquilla, Colombia, this semester to immerse himself in American culture and the English language.

"At home, I was an English teacher," Escorcia said. "So I thought that it would really look good on my résumé to just be in an English-speaking country since that's basically the class that I was going to be teaching at home."

Being in America with only resident alien status limited Strathman in a few ways as well, but one in particular stood out to him all his life. Without residency in Canada and without citizenship in America, he hasn't been able to vote in either country.

But this November he will be able to place his vote in the mid-term elections.

"I think that's one way it's clearly going to be different: never having voted before and now feeling more like a part of the process," he said. "Up until now, I've just watched everything happen."

To be naturalized, a person must have good moral character, be 18 years old, have legal residency in the U.S., have knowledge of the Constitution, understand words in ordinary usage in English and understand the fundamentals of the history and government of the U.S.

David Currey, director of International Student and Scholar Services, said MU's international faculty members are hired largely the same way as faculty born domestically.

"International scholars must apply and compete for teaching and research positions at MU much the same as domestic candidates, based on work experience, educational qualifications and special skills," Currey said. "However, they must also go through a gantlet of immigration paperwork before they can begin employment."