Holiday Event: Thanksgiving Celebration at ACMS | | On December 4, the American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS) successfully organized a Thanksgiving celebration event attended by distinguished guests from the U.S Embassy, Diluv Hutugthu Foundation (DHF), National University of Mongolia (NUM), International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilization (IISNC), Business Council of Mongolia (BCM), and Catalyste +. The event provided an exciting opportunity for the ACMS team and partners to gather, eat, and celebrate the end of an exciting year.
The celebration featured a traditional Thanksgiving dinner provided by UB staple Millie's Espresso, and was accompanied by toasts and remarks that fostered thoughtful conversations and strengthened connections among the attendees, increasing their sense of gratitude and community.
During the celebration, the attendees were introduced to the newly appointed In-Country Director of ACMS, Ms. Davaasuren Myagmar, who assumed her position this November. The event honored the meaningful partnerships between ACMS and other organizations in Ulaanbaatar, and explored future opportunities and the vision of ACMS with guests.
ACMS expresses our gratitude to everyone who attended the event. | In Gratitude to Giving Tuesday | | We are delighted to announce that we received donations totalling $3,075 with this year’s Giving Tuesday initiative!
In the year 2025, ACMS worked with over 400 scholars, students, researchers, K-12 teachers, and lifelong learners—many of whom are bright young people who represent the future of Mongolian Studies. Our collaboration with domestic and international organizations and individuals is made possible by the donations of the generous supporters of ACMS.
We exceeded our goal by 53% thanks to the 22 donors who supported us, including many of you! This contribution will have a tangible impact on the future of Mongolian Studies, as it supports the advancement and innovation of the field. The ACMS team extends our heartfelt gratitude to the generous donors.
And even if you missed Giving Tuesday, it's not too late to donate to ACMS! We invite you to make a tax-deductible contribution on our website today, which will support the next generation of students, scholars, researchers, policymakers, teachers, and others who comprise the future of Mongolian Studies. | | Mongolia Field School 2025 Alumna Selected for the Rhodes Scholarship! | | Our Mongolia Field School 2025 alumna Gabrielle Moreau has been selected for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship!
Gabrielle is currently pursuing a double-major in Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Environmental Sciences and Policy at Duke University. Her academic work focuses on geography, environmental policy, and Indigenous environmental governance. She has participated in numerous research projects, concentrating on sea-level rise, transboundary resource allocation, and social vulnerability. Gabrielle has also studied abroad in Cambodia to research community forestry. In addition, she is also a proud Métis Youth, serving on the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council since 2020.
Gabrielle will begin her studies at the University of Oxford, where she plans to pursue an MPhil in political theory to engage with theories of justice and human rights. We congratulate Gabrielle’s impressive accomplishment and wish her the best for her future academic pursuits! Read more about Gabrielle's exciting news here. | MindMaze, a Mongolian Traditional Puzzle Game Initiative by ACMS Interns | | This November, ACMS welcomed three interns to support our managerial tasks, newsletter, and website development. They are also leading a cultural initiative called MindMaze, an educational project utilizing traditional puzzle games to foster the young minds of Mongolia.
Founded with the mission to revive traditional Mongolian games while fostering critical thinking, MindMaze combines cultural heritage with modern educational principles. Its aim is to tackle this issue by engaging children with learning materials that reflect their culture and promote cognitive exercises with traditional puzzles. By merging tradition with educational methodology, the initiative has established 12 school clubs across 3 provinces and engaged over 3,400 children over the span of a year. Its goal is to create a space where heritage meets education.
With support from the American Council, American Corner, and Absolute School of English, MindMaze is redefining how cultural practices can serve as tools for modern learning. As the organization continues to expand, MindMaze represents an opportunity to connect with tradition while developing skills that transcend borders, making the country a hub for intellectual creativity and cultural innovation.
Learn more about their work at mindmaze.mn! | | | Call for Papers“Environmental and Economic Challenges in Global Asia” The Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) of the University of Kansas (KU) has announced its annual spring symposium themed “Environmental and Economic Challenges in Global Asia.” It will be held in a hybrid format—both virtually and in-person—on April 3-4, 2026, at the KU Lawrence campus.
The symposium invites scholars and graduate students from environmental studies, history, political science, geography, architecture, anthropology, the arts, and related fields to examine how Asian communities respond to increasing environmental and economic problems.
By focusing on long-term planning, infrastructure development, and regional cooperation amid global uncertainty, the symposium seeks to explore how Asian societies work toward more sustainable, resilient, and equitable futures.
Abstract Submission Deadline: January 15, 2026 Requirements: Abstract should be 250 words. While the primary focus of this two-day interdisciplinary gathering will be East Asia, it welcomes proposals engaging South, Southeast, and Central Asia, as well as comparative or transregional perspectives that situate Asia within global environmental and economic systems. Notification Date: No later than January 26, 2026
Special Note: The Graduate Scholars in East Asian Studies (GSEAS) will host “The KU Graduate Student Asian Studies Research Exhibition on the second day (April 4) of the symposium, featuring projects of graduate and undergraduate students.
Please apply with this form. For further inquiries, contact gseas@ku.edu or Ayako Mizumura at mizu@ku.edu. |
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