UM News

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (November 5, 2015) — In recognition of its outstanding scholarly achievements and promotion of diversity and excellence in graduate education, the University of Miami has been recognized as an institutional member—the first in Florida—of the prestigious Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society.

Founded by Yale and Howard universities in 2005, the society was named for Edward A. Bouchet (1852-1918), who in 1876, became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in any discipline from an American university. Also one of the first African Americans to be elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he was only the sixth person in the western hemisphere to earn a doctorate  in physics.

The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, foster environments of support, and serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service and advocacy for students and postdocs who traditionally have been underrepresented in the academy. In the spirit of Bouchet’s commitment to these pursuits both in and outside the academic realm, honor society fellows bearing his name also exhibit these qualities.

Bouchet fellows are inducted into the society at the annual Bouchet Conference on Diversity in Graduate Education in the spring at Yale. All fellows participate in ongoing professional development opportunities through the Graduate School.