Jason Koski/University Photography

From left, Victor Bucklew, Cassandravictoria (Cvic) Innocent, Juan Carlos Gomez, Florencia Ardón and Erin Johnson. Not pictured: Dexter Thomas.

Five doctoral candidates and one postdoctoral associate at Cornell were recently inducted into the Cornell chapter of the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society.

The 2014 Bouchet fellows are: Florencia Ardón, a postdoctoral associate in biomedical sciences; Victor Bucklew, a doctoral candidate in the field of electrical and computer engineering; Juan Carlos Gomez, a Ph.D. student in the field of mechanical and aerospace engineering; Cassandravictoria (Cvic) Innocent, a doctoral candidate in the field of molecular biology and genetics; Erin Johnson, a doctoral candidate in the field of neurobiology and behavior; and Dexter Thomas, in the field of Asian literature, religion and culture.

The scholars were inducted at the annual Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education, held March 28-29 at Yale University.

The Bouchet Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. Its network of pre-eminent scholars exemplifies academic and personal excellence, character, service and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy.

Sheri R. Notaro, associate dean for inclusion and professional development in the Graduate School and coordinator for the Cornell chapter of the Bouchet Society; Christine Holmes, director of Cornell’s Office of Postdoctoral Studies; and Cindy Grey, events and program coordinator, prepared the scholars by hosting a session Feb. 12, “How To Get the Most From the Bouchet Conference,” which focused on networking and presentation skills.

Yale and Howard universities established the Bouchet Society in 2005 to recognize the life and academic contributions of Bouchet, the first African-American to earn a doctorate from a U.S. university. He earned a doctorate in physics from Yale in 1876.