Udnaa Chuluunbaatar

Fostering a space where students feel that their unique experiences are recognized, respected and celebrated, Udnaa Chuluunbaatar is at the center of it all.

Chuluunbaatar serves as the coordinator of the Asian Heritage Cultural Center at UNCW. She aims to represent the richness of Asian cultures while fostering understanding, inclusivity and dialogue among the community.
 
“I want the center to be recognized not only as a cultural space, but as a vital contributor to student success and cross-cultural understanding across campus,” said Chuluunbaatar.

Chuluunbaatar earned a master's degree in Central Eurasian Studies from Indiana University Bloomington, and her doctorate in history at the National University of Mongolia in 2021. She and her husband, a bioanthropologist and faculty member at UNCW, moved to Wilmington in 2022.

“At the center, we serve students from across Asia, including East Asia, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, representing a highly diverse population in terms of language, culture and history,” said Chuluunbaatar.

Open to all students, the center serves alongside UNCW’s Student Success Centers, aligning their programming with the university’s academic mission. Opening in 2022 on behalf of members of the Asian Student Association, the center serves approximately 20-25 students each day.

“When designing or developing new initiatives, we have been shifting toward more meaningful, educational programming — such as roundtable discussions on preserving mother languages and inviting faculty from various departments to deliver lectures on Asian history and culture,” Chuluunbaatar said.

The Asian Heritage Cultural Center currently offers 50 programs and events through both entertainment and academic workshops. The Lunar New Year serves as the center’s signature cultural celebration each year, featuring cultural performances, traditional foods and interactive activities that invite people of all backgrounds to learn and participate.

Beyond campus, the center also participates in cultural events organized by North Carolina high schools and community partners.

“We make a strong effort to take part in these opportunities, as they allow us to represent Asian cultures, foster cross-cultural understanding and build lasting connections across diverse communities,” she said.

Chuluunbaatar’s educational background in Asian history, alongside women and gender issues in Asian countries, allows her to greatly manage multicultural conceptions in the community. She hopes the center grows into a vibrant hub for cultural connection, academic engagement and student empowerment.

“I hope my legacy at the Asian Heritage Cultural Center will be helping to build and sustain a welcoming home for students of Asian backgrounds — a space where they feel safe, supported and a true sense of belonging the moment they walk in,” she said.