EDIT: A representative of the American Center for Mongolian Studies has contacted us on social media and would like to clarify that ACMS has no stated plans to eliminate the language program, and is unable to comment on Tsermaa's employment status. We have updated the title of this petition to make the distinction clear. 

TO: The community of scholars and students of Mongolian Studies in America, and beyond

For the past 22 years, Dr. Tumurbaatar Tsermaa has devoted herself to Mongolian language and cultural instruction at the American Center for Mongolian Studies, or ACMS. After a career dedicated in service to the mission of building links between Mongolia and the world, she is now one year away from reaching retirement age. 

As scholars, members, friends, and former board members of the American Center for Mongolian Studies, we know that the past two years have been devastating towards funding for academic and cultural programs in Mongolia broadly, and for ACMS specifically. Amidst these challenges, it has been suggested that ACMS may be considering drastic cuts that include terminating Tsermaa’s employment on the eve of her eligibility for state pension. 

Tsermaa at work in her classroom at ACMS. 

Tsermaa has been essential to the ACMS since its inception. In her decades of work, she has taught over 600 students who have gone on to have illustrious careers both in high education and industry. Language acquisition for PhD and Masters students has been a pillar of ACMS’ mission, which Tsermaa has delivered tirelessly and masterfully. 

Tsermaa is a brilliant educator. As an academic doctor herself, she understands the needs and perspectives of students with advanced research projects. From very early stages, she makes sure her graduate research students can write and explain their research topic, statement of purpose, and research questions in Mongolian language. She tailors lessons to research needs by introducing necessary vocabulary and reading relevant literature. She works with students on respectful greetings and cultural norms, teaching them the language and cultural points that foster successful research and fieldwork. Each student’s path to learning Mongolian is different. Recognizing this, and intrigued by the task, Tsermaa masterfully walks with each of us, striking the right balance of support and challenge. While patience and empathy are important attributes for any educator to possess, Tsermaa embodies these effortlessly. She is selfless and caring by nature. For her students, Tsermaa has created bespoke curricula, worked long hours for months in service of her students, and all the while managed to create a personalized and creative pedagogical approach which stands out among her peers as exceptional. For those of us working in higher education, Tsermaa is what makes ACMS great. Her dedication to people, relationships, and human connection has formed a part of the fabric linking America and Mongolia. In our own careers, Mongolian language has given us the tools we needed, and we would not be here without her work at ACMS. 

We feel strongly that Tsermaa deserves to retire from her life-long career dedicated to language instruction at the ACMS with dignity. We feel strongly that she deserves the same respect and loyalty that she has given to the ACMS year in and year out. We urge the American Center for Mongolian Studies to reconsider any potential decision relating to Tsermaa's termination, and also urge scholars, former students, and the ACMS community to contact the ACMS with their concerns, including corresponding with colleagues and friends on the Board of Directors or Director Maggie Lindrooth at mlindrooth@mongoliacenter.org. 

This week, the ACMS has issued a call for donations in honor of a teacher or mentor that has been impactful for them. We have issued a contribution to the ACMS in Tsermaa’s name, and encourage others to do the same.