Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Announces 2013 UW-Madison Inductees

 

Professor Bouchet
Professor Bouchet

The  UW-Madison Chapter of the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society  will host its Annual Conference and Induction Ceremony  on Friday, March 1, from 1 p.m. to  6:30 p.m. in Varsity Hall I at Union South.  The conference will include graduate research presentations by 2012 Inductees Edward Cole, Abiola Keller, and Doug Kiel.  UW-Madison McNair Scholars will then present their undergraduate research at 3:30 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony and reception for 2013 Bouchet Society members at 4:30 p.m.      

The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society commemorates the first African American to earn a doctorate degree from an American university (Physics, Yale University, 1876). One national charter with two chapters was inaugurated by Yale University and Howard University on September 15, 2005, in commemoration of Dr. Bouchet’s birthday. 

The Bouchet Society “seeks to develop a network of scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, foster environments of support, and serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy” — exemplifying the spirit and example of Dr. Bouchet.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School formed a chapter in 2010.  Each year, the Graduate School may sponsor a limited number of graduate students to become members of the national Bouchet Society. The keynote at the 2012 induction ceremony in Madison was delivered by Dr. Curtis Patton, Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University. Prior to the ceremony, Dr. Patton sat down with our director of communications to talk about Edward Bouchet and the honor society named for him. 

Introducing the 2012-2013 Cohort

Patrick Brown
Patrick Brown

Patrick Brown, a doctoral candidate in cellular and molecular biology and a medical student. He plans to complete his joint degree by 2015. Brown recognizes the need to bridge the research/practice gap. As an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois, he participated in the Undergraduate Scholarship Program, a highly selective program enabling students to conduct National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research. Brown says he was also fortunate to work with Wan-Ju Li on a stem cell and cartilage regeneration project. As an MD/Ph.D. student, Brown has continued to be a part of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). As the chapter president, he helped organized a voter registration drive and grant writing efforts, helping nine SNMA students at UW-Madison attend the national conference. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Brown also volunteers as a pianist for the Madison Allied Community Gospel Choir.

Sharee Light
Sharee Light

Sharee Light, a doctoral candidate studying the neural correlates of mental health states such as creativity and empathy. She is also interested in investigating how these systems operate in individuals who have a mental disorder, such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). In addition to her research, Light leads courses for disadvantaged high school youth and has served as a teaching assistant for personality psychology. She wishes to use her professional career to serve ethnic minorities. Alongside her clinical neuropsychology supervisor, Carey Gleason, she provided free dementia screenings at community centers such as the Warner Park Community Recreation Center in Madison. Light also works as an intern at the William S. Middleton VA Hospital and has created a wellness program for the patients there.

 

Gregory Mosby
Gregory Mosby

Gregory Mosby, a doctoral candidate studying astronomy. He is studying galaxies in which some of the most massive black holes reside. A summer school experience at Penn State enabled him to write and receive a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. He is an award-winning presenter at the American Astronomical Society and National Society of Black Physicists conferences and has a zeal for learning and knowledge dissemination. Mosby serves as a graduate student faculty liaison, often bringing together diverse opinions in his department. He has also served as a summer mentor for undergraduates through the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Beyond campus, Mosby also is involved in hosting solar system viewing sessions at state parks around Wisconsin. 

Chidi Obasi
Chidi Obasi

Chidi Obasi, a doctoral candidate in the graduate program of clinical investigation studying the severity of acute respiratory illness. He was born in Madison, and then completed his medical education in Nigeria. During his time in Nigeria, he evaluated prescription patterns of antimalarial drugs among doctors in a teaching hospital. Obasi served as a reviewer for articles in the Wisconsin Medical Journal and worked as a TRICARE representative, ensuring that military personnel and their families understood and obtained appropriate health care. Long-term, Obasi hopes to improve health and educational achievement among minority groups through community.

 

 

Myeshia Price
Myeshia Price

Myeshia Price, a doctoral candidate studying sexuality. As a former McNair Program scholar, Price was first introduced to research eight years ago, and published two peer-reviewed articles with her academic advisor, Janet Hyde. Through her work as a sexual health scholar at the Center of Excellence for Sexual Health’s community leadership program, Price gained community leadership skills that carried her forward in her research and educational goals. Among her peers and colleagues, she is known as “Switzerland” for her neutrality and objectivity. She has made a point not to let emotions supersede her rationality. Price currently works for the Schools of Hope program as a tutor for Madison’s East High School students and is the student ambassador for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.

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