Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (Bouchet Society) recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who serve as examples of the five pillars, scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy.
Edward Bouchet (1852-1918) graduated from Yale College in 1874 was the first African American to earn a doctorate from an American university with 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.
The Bouchet Society memberships in the Virginia Tech chapter are listed below:
- Doctoral Student Membership will be considered for any individual who is currently a Ph.D. student in good academic standing, and through initial research achievement in a humanities, social sciences and sciences field, has shown outstanding promise as a scholar, as evidenced by independent investigation or current work on a dissertation project.
- Post-Doctoral Membership will be considered for any individual who has received their Ph.D. degree over the last 6 years, and through initial research achievement in a humanities, social sciences and sciences field shown outstanding promise as a scholar, as evidenced by independent investigation, completion of the dissertation and publications.
The most recent deadline for student applications was January 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
For questions, please reach out to Dr. Catherine Cotrupi, Assistant Dean of Student Services, Inclusion, and Strategic Partnerships, at cotrupi@vt.edu.
Each fall semester, The Graduate School announces the start of the application period. Doctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars or associates must complete and submit an application if they wish to be considered to join the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society.
Each candidate's application requires:
One letter of recommendation from the candidate's dissertation advisor/chair which articulates the nominee's academic excellence and their contributions that complement research and teaching, such as advocacy and engagement.
An unofficial copy of the candidate's transcripts from their graduate work at Virginia tech
A personal statement which captures how the candidate embodies the characteristics of Dr. Bouchet as expressed through the five thrusts (scholarship, character, leadership, service and advocacy) and the mission of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. (2 - 3 pages).
A scholarly writing sample
A copy of the candidate's current curriculum vitae.
The application can be found here.
Those selected to be members of the Virginia Tech Chapter of the Bouchet Society are recognized at the Graduate Education Week's Awards Banquet in March and at the annual Bouchet Society Conference held at Yale University in April. Conference information will be provided once available.