Yale Public Service Fellows Help New Haven

July 15, 2005 — Thirty-five Yale students chosen from a pool of more than 200 applicants have been named this year’s President’s Public Service Fellows.

Established by Yale President Richard C. Levin in 1994, the fellowships provide stipends to students who work on community-based projects for 8–12 weeks during the summer. The fellowships free students from financial concerns so they can work in the public interest and free community organizations from the financial burden of hiring summer help. Since its inception, more than 350 Yale students have contributed over 150,000 hours of community service to New Haven’s nonprofit and public sector agencies as President’s Public Service Fellows.

Undergraduates interested in working as President’s Public Service Fellows apply for placements proposed by the agencies. Graduate and professional students may choose to design a community project relevant to their discipline. In addition to fieldwork in local agencies, Fellows meet weekly and submit reports on their projects.

“This experience really has exceeded all my expectations,” says Robert Nelb, who is working at the Hill Health Center as a Fellow. “In my first six weeks, I worked on a few dozen grants at all stages of the process: identifying funding, designing interventions, working with community partners, creating a budget and writing the grant. Each proposal is unique, and at a place like HHC, I’ve had the opportunity to deal with a wide range of health issues, including mental health, dental health, domestic violence, cancer prevention and nutrition-related diseases. I’m learning so much about community health care.”

Damith Ayaska Fernando was assigned to the New Haven Parks and Recreation Department’s Eco-Adventure Extreme Camp, a two-week day camp, offered three times during the summer. This program introduces children to hiking, canoeing, kayaking, rope climbing, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving and white water rafting. This was his first choice, and Fernando notes, “My expectations for the summer were quite high.” Midway through the season, Fernando realized, “The Fellowship has surpassed my expectations, changing my outlook and opening my eyes to very many things.”

A list of participants and projects follows.

Yale Public Service Fellow, Yale School, Project

Jacqueline Berger, School of Management, Cityseed
Jessica Bialecki, Yale College, New Haven Ecology Project
Brad Blondes, School of Art, Artspace
Elizabeth Brandwood, Yale College, Casa Otonal
Kelly Conron, Yale College, International Festival of Arts and Ideas
Malcolm Darrell, School of Drama, City of New Haven, Office of Cultural Affairs
Damith Fernando, Yale College, City of New Haven, New Haven Parks Department
Leah Ferrucci, Epidemiology and Public Health, City of New Haven, Livable Cities Initiative
Annika Goldman, Yale College, Arts Council of Greater New Haven
Michael Grogan, School of Architecture, Yale Urban Design Workshop
Jeffrey Hamilton, Yale College, City of New Haven, City Plan Department
Julia Hickey, Yale College, Creative Arts Workshop
Kenneth Hughes, Divinity School, City of New Haven, Office of Economic
Development
Laura Huizar, Yale College, JUNTA for Progressive Action
Murad Hussain, Law School, Jerome N. Frank Legal Services
Jayoung Koo, Forestry and Environmental Studies, Urban Resources Initiative
Andrew Krause, Yale College, Hill Development Corporation
Jee Lee, Yale College, New Haven Reads
Marcus Leonard, Yale College, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce
Katherine Levine, Yale College, New Haven Housing Authority
Emily Mathews, Yale College, Yale National Youth Sports Program
Erich Matthes, Yale College, City of New Haven, Chief Administrator’s Office
Harvey Miller, Yale College, Footebridge
Carolynn Molleur-Hinteregger, Eli Whitney Museum
Meghan Murphy, Yale College, Neighborhood Housing Services
Robert Nelb, Yale College, Hill Health Center
David Olasky, Law School, City of New Haven, City Plan Department
Kevin Osowski, Yale College, City of New Haven, Mayor’s Office
Erin Ruppe, School of Nursing, Fair Haven Community Health Center
Errol Saunders, Yale College, Summerbridge
Maya Shankar, Yale College, Town Green Special Services District
Erinn Staley, Divinity School, All Our Kin
Tiffany Steward, Drama School, Dwight/Edgewood Theater Project
Daniel Weeks, Yale College, Empower New Haven
Christina White, Yale College, Yale Science Collaborative Hands-on
Learning and Research