Bouchet Society Spotlight: Julianne Armijo

The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society is named for the first African American doctoral recipient in the United States (Physics, Yale University, 1876) and recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement, promotes diversity, and advances excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. The society was formed in 2005 through a national chartre inagurated by Yale University and Howard University. Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan has held a chapter since 2008.

Learn more about the Bouchet Society through this Q&A with one of its 2026 inductees: Julianne Armijo, a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Michigan School of Nursing. 

How has the Bouchet Honor Society fueled your research and/or professional practice? 
The Bouchet Honor Society has allowed me to explore interdisciplinary connections within a community that honors shared values. Additionally, the support for future conference attendance is crucial to disseminating both my research and the Bouchet mission.

What do you value most about being a member of the Bouchet Honor Society?
Edward A. Bouchet serves as an inspiring example for me and for all academics, especially those of us who have faced barriers to participating in higher education and the academy. 

What advice might you give to Bouchet Society applicants?
Sometimes it’s easy for us to let our service to the community fall by the wayside in pursuit of other commitments. However, I encourage applicants to seek out service opportunities that align with Bouchet values. 

Learn more about the Bouchet Society at U-M.