Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

History

The national charter of the Edward Alexander Bouchet Society was inaugurated on September 15, 2005, in commemoration of Bouchet’s birthday, by Yale University and Howard University. There are currently eighteen chapter institutions. 

The society is named in honor of Edward A. Bouchet (1852-1918), who became the first African American to earn a doctorate from an American university when he earned a Ph.D. in Physics from Yale University in 1876. "One can only imagine the ‘inner strength’ he must have had given that he lived during a time that was exceedingly difficult for Black people,” observed Dr. Michelle Nearon, Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Student Development and Diversity at Yale University, in 2018, “We don’t know for sure, but it is probably safe to say that Dr. Bouchet knew that the odds of him being able to secure a faculty position were relatively nonexistent. Yet, owing much to his persevering nature, resilience, deep love of knowledge, and sheer brilliance he continued to excel academically."

Historically, the Society focused on those students who had been underrepresented in the academy. Today, the Bouchet Society chapter at MSU is open to all individuals who support the mission of the organization. Membership is nondiscriminatory and selection will not grant restrictions or preferences based on protected identity.

At MSU

In February 2019, Michigan State University's application to become a Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (BGHS) institutional partner was accepted. On April 5, 2019 during the “New Chapter Installation Ceremony” at the 16th annual conference, Michigan State University was formally welcomed as an institutional partner into the society. Then MSU Associate Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School Thomas Jeitschko was delighted to deliver appreciative remarks at the “New Installation Ceremony” and then University Distinguished Professor of History and Associate Dean Pero G. Dagbovie delivered the “Opening Plenary Presentation” that addressed the theme of the 2019 conference, “Reflections on Racism and U.S. Racial Tensions in the 21st Century.”

The MSU Graduate School also takes great pride in the fact that long-time Bouchet enthusiast Dr. Curtis L. Patton, Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, earned his Ph.D. from MSU in Microbiology in 1966 and in January 2013 established an Endowment Agreement with MSU to create The Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Award.

To be eligible at MSU, nominees/applicants must be:

• Currently enrolled full-time in a Ph.D. program at MSU, are beyond their first year, and are in excellent academic standing.
• Committed to inclusive excellence and to the outstanding qualities that Edward A. Bouchet exhibited, both inside and outside academic realms (i.e., scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy).

Selection Criteria

The completed applications will be evaluated by the MSU BGHS Institutional Steering Committee (ISC). The ISC will review nomination documents, vote on each nomination, and present selected inductees to the BGHS Executive Committee (BGHSEC). All members of the BGHS are inducted upon the nomination of the Institutional Steering Committee (ISC) and approval of the BGHS Executive Committee (BGHSEC).

Preference will be given to those nominees/applicants who meet the following selection criteria: 

• Excellent academic credentials
• Outstanding letters of recommendation
• Compelling personal statement that addresses the Society’s core values
• Detailed description of dissertation project, if applicable
• Significance of contributions to field of research
• Informed statement on diversity/inclusiveness

Conditions and Responsibilities

Doctoral members of the BGHS at Michigan State University are required to:

• Participate in an orientation program, on campus Bouchet Society workshops, and meet with the MSU chapter’s institutional National Steering Committee representative at least once per semester.
• Submit an abstract of their dissertation project.
• register for, submit a proposal to present at, and attend the Annual Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education in the year that they are inducted into the Society. At the conference, honorees will participate in the BGHS Induction Ceremony. Please note that conference proposals are typically due in mid-February and the conference takes place in early April.

A full list of Bouchet Honor Society inductees can be found below.