University of Missouri Asian Affairs Center

Join the Asian Affairs Center as we cheer on the Republic of Korea in its World Cup match against South Africa!

📅 Wednesday, June 24, 2026
🕢 Gathering begins around 7:30–7:45 p.m.
⏰ Kickoff: 8:00 p.m.
📍 The Shack, MU Student Center

We're excited to welcome a special group of 20 visiting students from Jinju Health College in South Korea! Come enjoy an evening of soccer, friendship, and AAC community spirit. Family members and friends are welcome.

🥤 Feel free to bring snacks and soft drinks to enjoy during the match.

Whether you're a devoted soccer fan or simply looking for a fun evening with colleagues and friends, come join us as we cheer for Korea's Red Devils together!

안녕하세요! Look who's on Mizzou campus! Welcome to the students from Jinju Health College! 🇰🇷🇺🇸 They will be spending the next two weeks learning about dental hygiene and clinical pathology, improving their English skills, and experiencing American campus life. We're excited to host them and create lasting memories together! 🐯

We've spent two short but unforgettable weeks with our Japanese students from the University of Nagano! Thank you to each of you for choosing to spend part of your summer with us. It has been a pleasure getting to know you, and we hope your experiences at Mizzou will stay with you forever. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors! MIZ! 🐯🇯🇵🇺🇸

The first week for our Japanese students was fun, busy, and full of new experiences! They spent the week learning about U.S. culture, history, and sports, and exploring the student life at Mizzou. From classes and cultural activities to building new friendships, the week was full of learning and discovery. We hope this week is both enjoyable and memorable for everyone! 🐯

Activities & Site Visits --
*English for Global & Professional Communication class
*Business Across Borders class
*Columbia City Hall
*Missouri State Capitol, Jefferson City
*Cultural Field Trip to Kansas City
*Baseball game Kansas City Royals vs. Houston Astros
*World Cup Watch Party: Japan vs. Netherlands with JSA (Mizzou Japanese Student Association)
*Soccer with JSA members and friends

A warm welcome to the students and faculty of the University of Nagano! We are so pleased to host you at Mizzou and are excited to share learning experiences, conversations, and connections we will share together. Enjoy every moment of your stay! 🐯🐯🇯🇵🇺🇸

Congratulations to our graduates! Your hard work, dedication, and passion truly shined through your final presentations which showcased your leadership skills, knowledge, and growth. We are so proud of you and look forward to amazing things you accomplish in the future! 👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🐯 👏

We were also honored to welcome a Mizzou alum, Prof. Kwangman Ko, as a guest speaker, who shared his research on rapid population aging in East Asia and how it is reshaping family caregiving and intergenerational relationships.

The celebration was made even more memorable by amazing performances from our talented instructors, singer Deb O’Haro and actor Tom Nordberg, who beautifully expressed their excitement and pride for every graduating scholar 🎶🎭👏

Graduation presentation topics --
*Autonomous Driving Pilot City Plan for Gwangju A.I. Model City
*Behavioral Economics: Can It Save the Concept of ‘Intent’ in Criminal Law?
*Challenges Faced by Afghan Families in the United States
*Different - But Not Less: Understanding Autism — Insights from Brain Functioning
*Do We Have an International Legal Framework for the Next Pandemic
*Draping the Past on the Future: A Journey into Hanfu Culture
*Early Childhood Testing: What Do All of These Tests Actually Produce?
*From Filial Piety to Family Resilience: Aging, Caregiving, and Intergenerational Support in East Asia
*How a Loose Wire Led to a Bridge Collapse: A Maritime Systems Perspective
*How Artificial Intelligence is Redefining Disaster Management
*I am a Stranger: A Journey in America
*In Front of Death – Race Does Not Matter: Diversity and Multiculturalism in the Military
*One Drink – Two Worlds: Adult Beverage Drinking Customs and Social Culture in China and the United States
*Real Estate Market Analysis Using Latent Dirichlet Allocation: A Comparison Between South Korea and the United States
*Safety Inspection Systems for International E-Commerce Goods: A Comparative Study
*Timeless Beauty: Chinese Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum
*Which is the Best Diet for Your Health
*Why Do Cities Look the Way They Do? - Urban Design as a Mirror of Power, Economy, and Society
*Will A.I. Ever Replace the Mechanical Engineer

It's always difficult to say goodbye to our students who have shared their cultures, perspectives, and unforgettable memories with us this semester.

We are so proud of each one of you and and your accomplishments during this short period of time. We hope your time at Mizzou was filled with meaningful experiences and personal growth. Wishing you safe travels and great success in all of your future endeavors! ! 🐯😎💛

Heartfelt congratulations to our scholars' spouses for successfully completing the !

Thank you for being such a wonderful group and for bringing your unique perspectives, energy, and laughter to the program. We are so proud of your hard work and willingness to embrace new experiences. Wishing each of you all the best as you continue your journey! ✨🐯🇰🇷🇲🇳

We are also grateful to our amazing instructor Kathy Noble and teaching assistant Hyeri Jen Lee for their dedication, support, and hard work throughout the semester, and for making this program a positive and memorable experience!

Happy Teacher's Day! We appreciate your dedication, time, and guidance you have provided to students and scholars! Wishing you all the best! 🙌🫶

program highlights

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of America's "Mother Road", Route 66, Instructor Susan Nordberg used the April issue of Rural Missouri and its feature article in her class with visiting scholars from Mongolia, South Korea and China. The class is a part of the Global Leadership Program of the University of Missouri's Asian Affairs Center. Everyone sure got their "kicks" reading, in English, about Route 66. U.S. Route 66 Centennial

"Missouri was home for the first stretch of Route 66 to ever be paved, but Route 66 changed lives for many people all across the country. For a kid from rural Missouri, the country we drove through felt like an alien planet." Jones, C. (2026, April). Lessons From The Open Road. Rural Missouri, 79(4), 7.