Natalie Rivera selected for the 2026 Bouchet Graduate Honors Society

January 5, 2026

CLS Dual Doctoral Major Natalie Rivera has been selected to be an inductee in the seventh cohort of the MSU Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society.

The purpose of BGHS is to recognize outstanding scholarly achievement and promote inclusive excellence in doctoral education and the professorate. The 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 who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy.

Natalie will be formally inducted into the honor society april 10-11 at Yale University. 

"What a tremendous honor and testament to your considerable academic accomplishments!" wrote Dr. Terah Chambers, Associate Dean of the MSU Graduate School. 

Natalie is first generation student from Chicago, Illinois. She is a dual major doctoral student in CLS and the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. She is a recipient of the Academic Achievement Graduate Assistantship (AAGA) and of the College of Social Science Early Start award. She received her BA in Psychology with two minors in Criminal Justice and US Latino/a Studies from Iowa State University. She received her MS in Criminal Justice with a graduate certification in Chicano/Latino Studies from Michigan State University. Her research interests are Latino/a/x Criminology, victimology, gender-based violence, corrections, critical criminology, and mixed methods.