Report of the 65th Anniversery Annual General Meeting, 2026

The Mongolia Society’s 65th Annual Meeting & Panels was held October 2-3, 2026, at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. The event wasa sponsored by The Mongolia Society, Western Washington University, Mr. Tony Ettinger and the Mongol American Cultural Association.

This year’s meeting honored Professor Henry G. Schwarz, Professor Emeritus at Western Washington University, whose scholarship, teaching, and institutional leadership have shaped the field of Mongolian Studies for more than half a century.

Professor Henry G. Schwarz

The main campus of Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, sits on a hill that directly overlooks Bellingham Bay. Bellingham Bay opens up into the larger Salish Sea, which is the overarching marine basin surrounding the area.

The Mongolia Society’s 65th Anniversary Annual General Meeting took place in the Viking Union, located near the University Library on the main campus. As President Michael Klecheski and Prof. Melissa Chakars discovered in the images below, the walk to and through the Viking Union building includes amazing views of the Bay.

8:30-9:30 am Curated tour of Western Washington University's Library (Wilson Building) holdings on Mongolia and the Mongols, given by Prof. Munkhchimeg (Chimgay) Tserendorj. Please meet at the Wilson main door near the information desk. To register, please contact Susie Drost, monsoc@iu.edu.

President Klecheski presenting a copy of Occasional Papers No. 30 (2025) to Prof. Chimgay Tserendoj.

Prof. Chimgay Tserendorj and Pres. Klecheski

Prof. Chimgay introduces conference participants to the Mongolian Studies collections at the WWU Library.

Prof. Chimgay Tserendorj and conference participants

Books Prof. Tserendorj selected for review

Prof. Charlotte D'Evelyn and Mr. Batorgil Batjargal examining selected texts.

(Left to right) Elaine, Tseren, Prof. Melissa Chakars, and Mr. Bill Bikales