7th Hmong Studies Consortium International Conference
October 23-25, 2026
Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS)
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI, USA
The Hmong Studies Consortium (hmongstudies.wisc.edu) is an international consortium of both senior and emerging interdisciplinary scholars from around the world who approach the study of Hmong people and their histories, politics, arts and culture, literature, and lived experiences from a variety of critical lens. The Hmong Studies Consortium is planning to host its Seventh International Conference at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although this is an academic conference with a strong focus on fostering dialogue in Hmong Studies in the fields of history, anthropology, sociology, geography, linguistics, development studies, gender studies, literary studies, and ethnic studies, artists and activists of various kinds are also invited to present and participate. Academic research, creative activity, artistic presentations, and roundtable conversations covering any topic within Hmong Studies are welcome, but works that engage transnational and transdisciplinary frameworks, works that offer comparative and relational analysis between varied Hmong lived experiences, and works that speak to questions of politics, praxis, and/or justice for Hmong communities across time and space are particularly encouraged. Conference registration is free of charge and will be conducted entirely in-person.
Please remember to register for the Hmong Studies Consortium Conference!
Conference Registration: Hmong Studies Consortium 7th International Conference – registration form
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We are excited to offer two tours of archival and research material at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as part of the 7th Hmong Studies Consortium International Conference.
Tour #1
University of Wisconsin Archives
Led by: chaoya (nkauj zaj ntxhee) yang
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives and Records Management collects, preserves, and provides access to our the university’s documented history. Come for a walking tour and view selected materials from throughout university’s history. This tour is for anyone who is interested in archives, primary sources or learning more about UW-Madison, the host campus for the 7th Hmong Studies Consortium International Conference.
Tour Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
Tour Time: 9am-11am
Meeting Location: Steenbock Library 340, which is on the third floor and accessible by stair and elevator.
Please register for this tour by October 22, 2026, as participation is capped at 15 people.
Registration Link: 7th Hmong Studies Consortium Tour: University of Wisconsin Archives – registration form
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Tour #2
University of Wisconsin Special Collections (The Father Yves Bertais Hmong Collection)
Led by: Larry Ashmun and Carly Sentieri
Father Yves Bertrais was a lifelong Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) missionary who worked with the Hmong for more than 55 years. His collection at UW-Madison holds copies of his diaries, handbooks, photographs, exhibit material, maps, as well as thousands of letter correspondence related to his OMI mission. Other notable aspects of the collection include photo albums of Hmong life in French Guiana, Hmong communities in China, and audio tapes of some of the Radio Veritas broadcasts for Asia prepared under Fr. Bertrais’ direction. Photograph collections also include several from the special Hmong RPA Founders celebration held in Milwaukee in 1997 honoring the script’s three co-creators. The Fr. Bertrais Collection was received by the UW-Madison Libraries on a permanent loan basis from the OMI in August 2007. The present, small exhibit is done in conjunction with the University’s hosting the 7th Hmong Studies Consortium International Conference.
Tour Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
Tour Time: 2pm-4pm
Meeting Location: Ingraham 206, Larry Ashmum will lead participants to the location around 1:30pm. No registration is necessary, but participation limit is capped at 25 people on the day of.
The conference program is now available. Please follow this link to view the most recent conference schedule.
Questions and email submissions should be sent to Dr. Ian Baird (ibaird@wisc.edu) and Dr. Kong Pheng Pha (kpha@wisc.edu).