In early April, seven of our Bouchet inductees were able to travel with us to Yale to be inducted at the formal ceremony on April 1. Four members presented their work during the Edward A. Bouchet Conference that followed the next day. A highlight of the conference was the Bouchet Leadership Award Keynote Lecture from University of Miami President Julio Frenk.
The University of Michigan Inductees following their pinning. From left: Mauro Rodriguez, Courtney McCluney, Jorge Soler, Kelly Slay, Tizoc Cruz-Gonzalez, Natalie Davis, and Kimberly Reyes.
On April 22, we welcomed the above inductees back to Rackham for an on-campus reception, where they were joined by friends, family, and advisors. Dean Carol A. Fierke opened the program, which was followed by the official introduction of the new members. Each was then presented with a plaque signifying their Bouchet certificate of membership. The new inductees then discussed their motivation in applying to the Bouchet Honor Society and provided a brief overview of their research. Several mentioned exciting next steps in their professional careers, and we look forward to learning of the future successes of our 2016 members.
Named for the first African American doctoral recipient in the United States (Physics, Yale University, 1876), the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. See the full list of Bouchet Honor Society members from U-M since 2009.
Bouchet members at the Rackham reception. From left: Natalie Davis, Kimberly Reyes, Valentina Montero-Roman, Jorge Soler, Kelly Slay, Courtney McCluney, Fantasy Lozada, Tizoc Cruz-Gonzalez, and Latisha Ross. Not pictured: Mauro Rodriguez