Edward Bouchet (1852-1918) graduated from Yale College in 1874. He went on to be the first African American to earn a doctorate from an American university when he earned a Ph.D. in physics at Yale University in 1876. At that time, Bouchet was the sixth person in the western hemisphere to earn a doctorate in physics. He was also one of the first African Americans to be elected to the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

Membership into the Bouchet Honor Graduate Society is by application only and is approved by the National Steering Committee. The levels of membership are as listed below:

• Doctoral Student Membership is available to any individual who is currently a doctoral student in good academic standing, and through initial research achievement in a humanities, social sciences, or sciences field has shown outstanding promise as a scholar, as evidenced by independent investigation or current work on a dissertation project.

• Post-Doctoral Membership is available to any individual who has received their Ph.D. degree over the last six years, and through initial research achievement in a humanities, social sciences, or sciences field has shown outstanding promise as a scholar, as evidenced by independent investigation, completion of the dissertation and publications.

• Faculty Membership is conferred upon any individual who has shown noteworthy achievement as a scholar and exemplar of the Bouchet Society’s mission. The faculty should currently hold an appointment in the humanities, social sciences, or sciences fields, with a record of publication and evidence of research and teaching in their field of study. Individuals who are invited to membership have (by virtue of their scholarship, research, teaching, and service) shown their commitment to ensuring excellence and equity in graduate education.
  NOTE: Consideration for this membership is by nomination only.

• Alumni Membership is conferred upon any individual who has shown noteworthy achievement as a scholar and exemplar of the Bouchet Society’s mission in the humanities, social sciences, or sciences fields and who has received their PhD from the member institution. Individuals who are invited to membership have (by virtue of their scholarship, research, teaching and service) shown their commitment to ensuring excellence and equity in graduate education.
  NOTE: Consideration for this membership is by nomination only.

• Lifetime or Honorary Membership is conferred upon any individual who has shown outstanding and noteworthy achievement as a scholar and exemplar of the Bouchet Society’s mission in the humanities, social sciences, or sciences fields. Individuals who are invited to membership have (by virtue of their scholarship, research, teaching and service) shown their commitment to ensuring excellence and equity in graduate education.
  NOTE: Consideration for this membership is by nomination only.

Student and Postdoc Application Process:

Membership into the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society is by application only and is approved by the National Steering Committee. All nominees must have completed candidacy, having completed their qualifying exam, orals, qualifying papers or equivalent before submitting all materials below.

Application Materials:

1. Completed Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Recommendation Forms from each of the following:
• The nominee's dissertation advisor or committee member
• A graduate faculty member or administrator with knowledge of the candidate's leadership and character attributes
2. Current unofficial transcript
3. A current Curriculum Vitae or résumé
4. 250-word dissertation or research abstract
5. Statement of purpose (2-page maximum) from the candidate indicating:
• Educational and career accomplishments
• Future professional goals
• Past and current academic experience
• Ways in which they have and will continue to fulfill the five thrusts of scholarship, character, leadership, service, and advocacy
• How the candidate's educational accomplishments will contribute to the mission of the Bouchet Society

Student or Postodcotoral Membership Application

Application materials should be submitted as a single PDF document to the Office of Graduate Diversity Initiatives. The subject line should read: Bouchet Application Package-Last name, First name

Invited Membership Procedures (Faculty, Alumni, and Life or Honorary Members):

Consideration for these membership categories is by nomination only. To submit a nomination, please complete and submit the nomination form.

Nominees for Faculty, Alumni, and Life or Honorary membership will be asked to submit the following:

1. Curriculum vitae or résumé
2. Selected publication for the Bouchet Journal
3. Personal statement depicting anticipated contributions to the Bouchet Society

Faculty, Alumni, Life, or Honorary Membership Nomination Form

Application Timeline:

Application cycle closes December 15 at 5 p.m.

Application and nomination materials should be submitted as a single PDF document to the Office of Graduate Diversity Initiatives. Subject line should read: Bouchet Application - Last name, First name or Bouchet Nomination - Last name, First name (of nominee)

• Upon receipt of completed application materials for nominees, the Membership Selection Committee will review all applications.
• The Membership Selection Committee will then provide a recommendation of inductees for consideration to the National Steering Committee.
• The National Steering Committee reviews all nominated applications submitted from chapter institutions and reserves the right to approve or decline membership into the Bouchet Society.

November 1: Call for Applications & Nominations

November 15: Applications Available

December 15: Application materials due by 5pm (late materials will not be accepted and incomplete applications will not be reviewed)

February 1: UF Selection Committee provides recommendations to the National Steering Committee

March 1: Applicants notified of final decision

Mid-April: Induction Ceremony at Yale University during the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Annual Conference

Students and prospective inductees are encouraged to participate in the BGHS Annual Conference by submitting a proposal to present. While you may submit multiple abstracts, if selected, you will only be able to participate in one category (oral research presentation, poster research presentation, or academic panel). The deadline for abstracts is typically mid-February. Please visit the Call for Proposals for further details.

One national charter with two chapters was inaugurated by Yale University and Howard University on September 15, 2005, in commemoration of Bouchet’s birthday. Please refer to the charter regarding the eligibility requirements and application process for obtaining individual membership in the society or establishing an institutional chapter.

• Yale University*
• Howard University*
• Cornell University
• Rutgers University
• The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
• The George Washington University
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of California, San Diego
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan
• University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Washington University, St. Louis
• University of Florida

*Denotes Founding Chapters

Please click each link below to view the profiles of that year's inductees:

• 2017 Bouchet Inductees
• 2018 Bouchet Inductees
• 2019 Bouchet Inductees
• 2020 Bouchet Inductees
• 2021 Bouchet Inductees

Details to be announced at a later date.