Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (BGHS) commemorates Yale alumnus Dr. Edward Alexander Bouchet, a physicist and educator who, in 1876, made history as the first African American to earn a doctorate in the U.S. Co-founded by Yale and Howard universities in 2005, the Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes inclusive excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate.

Howard University BGHS Chapter

The Howard University chapter of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society honors Ph.D. students who demonstrate excellence in research, leadership, service, and a deep commitment to advancing access in higher education. Inductees join a national community of scholars and present their work at the annual conference at Yale in April.

Howard BGHS Mission

We seek to develop a national network of scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, who contribute to the advancement of their field(s) of study, and who are committed to applying knowledge to improve the lives and conditions of the communities they serve. Bouchet scholars exhibit the highest values of Howard University through their character, service, scholarship, leadership, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy. In the spirit of Dr. Bouchet’s commitment to these ideals, inductees into the BGHS must demonstrate significant achievement in these areas.

Bouchet Society Values

BGHS members exhibit the highest values of Howard through their integrity, honor, exemplary conduct, and behavior. This character may be exemplified through individual emotional courage, principles, endurance, and perseverance. At each member’s core must be an awareness of the importance of contributing and working for the good of society.

BGHS members take their responsibility for their departments and their academic fields of study seriously. They are the embodiment of the ideals of Howard. They not only represent Howard's mission, but they also demonstrate strong initiative. Howard BGHS members play a leadership role in extending access to Howard and graduate education to a wider community by creating and sharing knowledge.

BGHS members advocate for broader access to graduate education and other resources in the academy. Activities might include advocating for the concerns of diverse faculty members and students, serving as a mentor, helping to address the needs of communities, and educating others on issues that may be at the heart of continued inequities and disparities in our society.

BGHS members are committed to the goals of lifelong education as well as the production and dissemination of knowledge in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. BGHS members are committed to contributing to the development of their field(s) of study and to the application of knowledge into action that improves the lives and conditions of their communities.

BGHS members are expected to actively contribute to the well-being of society by giving, remaining involved in the community, sharing their personal gifts and talents, and exhibiting commitment to the service of others. Examples of service include participating in an educational program for youth, serving in local or state politics, or volunteering with a local non-profit organization.

BGHS Eligibility & Responsibilities

Who Can Apply?

Ph.D. students at Howard University who meet the eligibility criteria below. Students may self-nominate or be nominated by a dissertation/graduate advisor or Howard University graduate faculty member.

You are eligible to be nominated if you can answer YES to all of the following:

I am currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Howard University (Professional doctorates other than the Ph.D. are not eligible)
I am in good academic standing
I have completed my required coursework and qualifying/preliminary exams (if required)
My dissertation proposal is approved by my committee, and I am actively working on my dissertation
I am on track for timely degree completion
I can attend the April conference at Yale and present my research

If you answer “No” to any item, you are not eligible to apply this year.

What You'll Gain

If selected, Howard University Bouchet Graduate Honor Society inductees gain:

National recognition as a Bouchet Graduate Honor Society scholar
The opportunity to present at the annual Yale conference in April & attend the National Bouchet Induction Ceremony
Inclusion in the Howard University Induction Ceremony & Reception
Listing on the Howard BGHS chapter website and access to an online network of Bouchet scholars and mentors
Exclusive access to mentorship, job, research, grant, postdoctoral, and other opportunities across Bouchet chapter institutions

Application & Nomination Details

The 2026 application for Edward Bouchet Graduate Honor Society is open. Ph.D. students at Howard University who meet the eligibility criteria may self-nominate or be nominated by a dissertation/graduate advisor or Howard University graduate faculty.

Online Application Forms:

Application Components:

All materials are submitted through the online 2026 Student Self-Nomination Form. Please click on the header of each item below to expand the section and review the instructions for completing each aspect of the application. It is each nominee's responsibility to understand what is required for an application to be considered complete.

Click on the application materials headers below for detailed instructions:

2026 Student Self-Nomination Form (Bouchet Graduate Honor Society)

Student nominees must complete the 2026 Student Self-Nomination Form (Bouchet Graduate Honor Society). On the online Student Self-Nomination Form, nominees must indicate the names and emails of the two individuals providing evaluations in support of their application. All required application components and supporting materials must be attached to the nominee's online Student Self-Nomination Form.

Student nominees must upload a current CV or résumé to their online Student Self-Nomination Form highlighting research, publications, presentations, teaching, mentoring, service, leadership, awards and professional affiliations.

Student nominees must upload an unofficial copy of their Howard University graduate transcript (capturing all Graduate School coursework taken to date and current cumulative GPA) to their online Student Self-Nomination Form.

Student nominees must upload to their online Student Self-Nomination Form a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words.

Prompt: Describe how you embody Dr. Bouchet's legacy and each of the Society’s five core values:

Character - Your values and ethics, how you handle responsibility and challenges, and how you uphold integrity, collegiality, and professionalism
Leadership - Roles where you have led, inspired, mentored, or influenced others: students, peers, organizations, or initiatives
Advocacy - How you have worked to advance equity, justice, inclusion, and access in higher education and/or in your field
Scholarship - Your research achievements, intellectual curiosity, and scholarly contributions to your field
Service - Service to your department, Howard University, broader community, and/or discipline/profession. Focus on impact

Student nominees must upload to their online Student Self-Nomination Form a short essay response of no more than 500 words.

Prompt: Explain your current and future professional goals, how you are working toward them, and how they align with the Society’s mission. Your short essay response should address:

Your short-term and long-term professional goals and progress (milestone achievements) you've already taken toward them
How your goals reflect the Society’s mission and values
How you plan to contribute to and benefit from the Society community (ideas for building community within the Society are welcome)
Any unique skills or perspectives you bring that would enrich the Society community

Student nominees must upload to their online Student Self-Nomination Form a short abstract of their dissertation research project (no more than 300 words).

Your dissertation abstract must include a discussion of:

Research purpose
Background
Methods
Results (or preliminary results)
Conclusions (or preliminary conclusions)

All nominees must submit a conference abstract to present at the Yale Bouchet Conference in April. Student nominees must upload to their online Student Self-Nomination Form an Abstract Submission Cover Sheet (found inside the nomination form) signed by a faculty advisor who has reviewed their abstract.

The conference abstract must follow the required format and inclusion criteria below:

250–500 words, Times New Roman, 11 pt. font, single-spaced
Include: title, author(s), institutional affiliation(s), purpose and background, methods, results (or preliminary results), and conclusions (or preliminary conclusions) and/or future work.
Must be relevant to one division (Humanities, Social Sciences, Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering) and address one of the following conference themes: a) Science, Technology, Science Policy, b) Chronic Disease, Health, c) Race Relations, Social Movements, d) Literature, Arts, Culture, e) U.S./International Policy, Law, Economics, or f) Career Pathways, Transitioning
Upload using the Abstract Submission Cover Sheet (signed by your faculty advisor)

Abstracts without a faculty signature will not be reviewed.

Student nominees must upload to their online Student Self-Nomination Form a short biographical sketch of no more than 250 words.

Your short biographical sketch must follow the required format below:

250 words, Times New Roman, 11 pt. font, single-spaced
Bold your name
Italicize your field of study
Write in third person

The content of your short biographical sketch should:

Focus on your dissertation topic, research, publications, presentations, and major awards
Include only academic/professional information relevant to your contribution as a scholar
Avoid personal or non-academic information (i.e., hobbies and interests) unless directly relevant

Sample biographical sketch:

Nate Johnson
Chemistry
Nate Johnson is a candidate for the Ph.D. in chemistry with a concentration in medicinal organic chemistry at Howard University. His research focuses on designing, synthesizing, and evaluating novel small molecules as anti-prostate cancer agents. Nate has been recognized as an Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) Fellow, Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning Network STEM Education Scholar, and received the Preparing Future Faculty certificate of completion. He also received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Boston College, where he was a recipient of the Corcoran Scholarship. Nate learns and grows with every endeavor and believes in sharing a love of chemistry through his teaching. He has been an avid volunteer with the Community Science fest, a community-directed science literacy effort centered on providing hands-on experiences to DC-area students from pre-K to high school. Ultimately, Nate aspires to work at the intersection of business and science, with a passion for improving lives through science and new technology.

Student nominees must provide the 2026 Recommender Evaluation Form link below to the two individuals they indicated on their online Student Self-Nomination Form will provide evaluations in support of their application. Electronic evaluations must be received from recommenders by the application due date. You will waive your right to view these evaluations.

Two evaluations are required:

The first evaluation must be completed by your dissertation/graduate advisor
The second evaluation must be completed by a Howard University graduate faculty member, department chair, or mentor who is not your dissertation/graduate advisor

Nominees should share the following online evaluation form with both of their recommenders:

2026 Recommender Evaluation Form (Bouchet Graduate Honor Society)

Each recommender will:

Rate you on the Society's five core values: character, leadership, advocacy, scholarship, service, and on your overall potential
Provide specific examples that illustrate these qualities

Nomination & Selection Process

Application Due Date

Applications must be received on or before the deadline of Wednesday, January 28, 11:59 pm, ET. Student nominees are responsible for ensuring that all the required documentation is submitted on or before the application deadline. Only complete applications will be considered.

Selection Process & Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by the Howard BGHS Committee. The committee will evaluate the alignment of the nominee’s qualifications, interests, and experiences with the mission and core values of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. Up to 10 Howard BGHS scholars will be chosen and recognized at a Graduate School award reception and at the annual Bouchet Society Conference held at Yale University each spring. Preference will be given to those nominees who meet the following selection criteria:

Strong record of research and academic excellence
Compelling evidence of leadership, service engagement, and impact
Clarity of goals and vision for future contributions aligned with Society's purpose
Meaningful advocacy for justice, equity, or access in higher education
Significance of contributions to the nominee’s field of research
Application components are complete, well written, and coherent

2026 Key Dates & Deadlines

The BGHS Student Self-Nomination Form, two (2) online Recommender Evaluation Forms (submitted electronically by recommenders), and supporting application materials must be submitted by the application deadline noted below.

Application deadline: January 28, 2026 (11:59 pm, ET)
Notification of inductees: February 13, 2026
Yale Conference & Induction: April 10 & 11, 2026
Howard Inductee Ceremony & Reception: Early April (TBD)

Howard Bouchet Scholars

Ten Howard University Ph.D. Students Inducted into Bouchet Society
Feb 20, 2025

Nine Howard University Ph.D. Students and Ph.D. Alum Inducted into Bouchet Society
Feb 21, 2024

Five Howard University Ph.D. Scholars Inducted into Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
Aug 30, 2022

Howard University Graduate School Announces the 2020 Edward Bouchet Scholars
April 16, 2020

Five Howard University Ph.D. Candidates Inducted into the Edward Bouchet Graduate Honor Society at Yale University
April 17, 2019

The 2025 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Kafilat Agbaje, Ph.D. Candidate, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Ama Boatemaa Appiah-Kubi, Ph.D., Communication, Culture and Media Studies

Devon L. Brown, Ph.D. Candidate, Computer Science

Darnell Davis, Ph.D. Candidate, Biology

Shantol Graham-Hyatt, Ph.D. Candidate, Microbiology

Deanna Hayden, Ph.D., Communication, Culture and Media Studies

Troy A. Kearse Jr., Ph.D., Social Psychology

Abigail Oyekola, Ph.D. Candidate, Electrical Engineering

Tess Starman, Ph.D., Sociology

Qyana Stewart, Ph.D. Candidate, Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies

The 2024 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Austin Anderson, Ph.D. Candidate, English

Tia M. Dickerson, Ph.D., Sociology

Jonece Layne, Ph.D. Candidate, Counseling Psychology

Jimisha Relerford, Ph.D. Candidate, English

Anaiya Reliford, Ph.D., Atmospheric Sciences

Kirsten Sims, Ph.D., Atmospheric Sciences

Lauren L. Taylor, Ph.D. Candidate, Sociology

Phillip Warfield, Ph.D. Candidate, History

Tiffany Wheatland-Disu, Ph.D. Candidate, History

Malick Kebe, Ph.D. Alumni, Mathematics

The 2023 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Kemet Azubuike, Ph.D. Candidate, Sociology

Symone Campbell, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

Sharleine Taina Cotin, Ph.D. Candidate, Biology

Terri Davis, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

Sharon Jessé Edwards, Ph.D. Candidate, History

Latoya S. Hogg, Ph.D., Social Work

Melanie R. Holmes, Ph.D., History

Destiny Lawler, Ph.D. Candidate, Pharmacology

Joshua Lawson, Ph.D. Candidate, English

Dana Williams-Johnson, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

The 2022 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Collis A. Brown, Ph.D. Candidate, Pharmacology

Tanya E. Gardner, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

Majella Chube Hamilton, Ph.D. Candidate, History

Bryan M. Jenkins, Ph.D. Candidate, Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

Raina Rhoades, Ph.D., Biology

The 2021 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Chynere Best, Ph.D., Psychology

William Kellon Bubb, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

Kenisha Ford, Ph.D., Physics

Emerald Jones, Ph.D., Sociology

Shannell Thomas, Ph.D., Sociology

The 2020 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Colin Campbell, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

Richmond Danso, Ph.D., Political Science

Akiv Dawson, Ph.D., Sociology

Lourds Michelle Fernando, Ph.D., Biology

Jaimee Swift, Ph.D., Political Science

The 2019 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Adisa Vera Beatty, Ph.D., History

Amber Davis, Ph.D., Social Work

Ashley Lewis, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

DeAnna Nara, Ph.D., Nutritional Sciences

Morgan Smalls, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

The 2018 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Kimberly Monroe, Ph.D., History

Tabia Pope, Ph.D., Communications Sciences & Disorders

Sulare Telford, Ph.D., Communications Sciences & Disorders

Sean Upshaw, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

Alisa Valentin, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

The 2017 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Frances Adomako, Ph.D., Counseling Psychology

Rogi Banks, Ph.D., School Psychology

Lindell Edwards, Ph.D., Educational Psychology

Jasmyn Ledford, Ph.D., School Psychology

Brandale Mills, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

Swetha Parvatheneni, Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Komitige Hashanthi Perera, Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Denise Rpsier, Ph.D., Political Science

Shadya Sanders, Ph.D., Atmospheric Sciences

Perre L. Shelton, Ph.D., Counseling Psychology

The 2016 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Lauren F. Booker, Ph.D., Psychology

Candice R. Hodge, Ph.D., Sociology

Tyriesa L. Howard, Ph.D., Social Work

Aida Jaldi, Ph.D., Physiology

Julius G. Johnson, Ph.D., African Studies

Grace R. Mavodza, Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Keadrick S. K. Peters, Ph.D., Sociology

Houra Taheri, Ph.D., Nutritional Sciences

Leticia D. Williams, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

The 2015 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Danyelle T. Brown-Willis, Ph.D., Educational Psychology

Christopher Cross, Ph.D., Anatomy

Onochie Dieli, Ph.D., Economics

Monica Goldson, Ed.D., Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

Zuleka Henderson, Ph.D., Social Work

Heather Key, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

Denna Kowalek-Geppi, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

Brianna P. Lemmons, Ph.D., Social Work

Vanessa Oyugi, Ph.D., African Studies

The 2014 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Kelechi C. Anyanwu, Ph.D., Counseling Psychology

Maurice B. Fluitt, Ph.D., Genetics

Mamatha Garige, Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Christina Nicole Johnson, Ph.D., Microbiology

Tinita Ortega, Ph.D., Communication Sciences & Disorders

Shaina N. Reid, Ph.D., Anatomy

Tiphané Turpin, Ph.D., Mass Communication & Media Studies

Melvin L. Williams, Ph.D., Communication, Culture, & Media Studies

The 2013 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Crystal M. Adkisson, Ph.D., Mass Communications & Media Studies

Ashantie Alford, Ph.D., African Studies

Wallis C. Baxter, Ph.D., English

Aamira Chaney, Ph.D., African Studies

Belinda R. Hauser, Ph.D., Genetics

Devlon Jackson, Ph.D., Communications & Culture

Malik D. Lewis, Ph.D., Chemistry

Stella-Monica N. Mpande, Ph.D., Mass Communications & Media Studies

Reema Puri, Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences

Bethtrice Thompson, Ph.D., Biology

The 2012 cohort members of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society include:

Luli Akinfiresoye, Ph.D., Pharmacology

Dondra Bailey, Ph.D., Biology

Dwayne Brown, Ph.D., Pharmacology

Jau-Yon Chen, Ph.D., African Studies

Valerie Cousins, Ph.D., Genetics

Ronya D. Foy, Ph.D., Social Work

Lydia Kakwera Levy, Ph.D., African Studies

Adrian Thompson, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

Willie J. Thompson, Jr., Ph.D., Sociology