Awards celebrate those strengthening the bond between Yale and New Haven

A group of Yale School of Medicine physicians who introduce New Haven students to potential careers in health care, two local champions behind the city’s growing biomedical and technology sector, and a pair of Yale undergraduates who have helped turn public art into a catalyst for community activism and mentorship are among the recipients of the 2026 Seton Elm-Ivy Awards.

The awards, bestowed annually, honor outstanding efforts by individuals, organizations, or programs to enhance the lives of Elm City residents and strengthen the partnership between Yale and its host city. Elm Awards recognize individuals from the broader New Haven community; the Ivy Awards recognize Yale staff members, faculty, or students.

This year’s Elm Award recipients are Mark Abraham, executive director of DataHaven, a New Haven-based nonprofit that since 1992 has collected and ensured access to data on well-being, equity, and quality of life in the community; Rob Bettigole and Chris McLeod, managing partners of Elm City Ventures, a New Haven-based seed and early venture fund that has supported Yale researchers tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges; and Dina Natalino, the supervisor for college and career pathways for the New Haven Public Schools.

Ivy Awards went to Leigh Evans, Jay Bonz, and Tatiana Moylan, three Yale School of Medicine faculty members who for more than a decade have introduced New Haven students to potential careers in the health care profession through the Yale Simulation Lab; Kevin Charbonneau, director of the Yale Environmental Health & Safety department; Andrei Harwell, a senior critic at Yale School of Architecture and director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop; Katelyn Wang and Johan Zongo, student leaders of Bright Spaces, a Dwight Hall organization dedicated to youth mentorship through art (Undergraduate Ivy Award); and Collin Edouard, a Ph.D. candidate in Yale’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences who has built connections with the New Haven community through music and mentorship. (Graduate/Professional Student Ivy Award).

Yale President Maurie McInnis and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker presented the awards during a ceremony on April 8.

The Seton Elm-Ivy Awards were established in 1979 through the inspiration and support of Fenmore Seton ’38 and Phyllis Seton, who established an endowment at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to support the awards ceremony. The first Elm and Ivy awardees were named in 1980.

The citations for this year’s winners follow:

Mark Abraham, Elm Award

“For over 15 years, Mark Abraham has served as a translator between the world of complex data and the lived realities of New Haven residents. As the Executive Director of DataHaven, he has moved far beyond the traditional role of a statistician to become a vital community architect who humanizes numbers. Under his leadership, DataHaven has transformed from a regional data repository into a national model for community-centered research. The centerpiece of this work is the DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey, a massive undertaking that Mark spearheaded to capture the granular details of life — from economic security and health access to neighborhood trust and safety.

“This survey is not merely a collection of charts; it is a public resource that has leveled the playing field for local nonprofits. By providing high-quality, neighborhood-level data, Mark has empowered dozens of New Haven organizations to secure millions of dollars in federal and private funding by accurately proving the needs of their constituents. Simultaneously, he has become an indispensable partner to Yale University. Yale researchers and students across the Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Management rely on Mark’s data to ground their academic scholarship in community reality, ensuring that Yale’s research is both relevant and responsive to its neighbors.

“Mark’s career is a testament to the idea that data, when placed in the right hands and used with the right heart, can be a powerful engine for equity and empowerment. Through his work, Mark reminds us that behind every statistic is a neighbor whose story deserves to be heard and whose needs deserve to be met.

“For his visionary leadership in data equity and his commitment to grounding academic research in local reality, Mayor Justin Elicker and President Maurie McInnis present Mark Abraham with an Elm Award.”

Rob Bettigole and Chris McLeod, Elm Award

“Since 2006, Rob Bettigole and Chris McLeod have been the quiet engines behind New Haven’s transformation into a world-class hub for biomedical and technological innovation. Through their leadership at Elm Street Ventures, they have spent two decades anchoring the city’s innovation economy by providing early belief to Yale-affiliated startups when few others would. While many venture capitalists focus solely on financial returns, Rob and Chris have remained steadfastly committed to New Haven as a place, ensuring that the discoveries made in Yale’s laboratories translate into jobs and economic vitality for the local community.

“The numbers speak for themselves: over the last 20 years, they have invested in 32 companies, the vast majority of which chose to stay and grow in Greater New Haven. These companies have collectively raised approximately $1 billion in follow-on capital and, more importantly, employed more than 500 people locally. Their work has effectively helped to stem the brain drain of academic talent, creating an ecosystem where Yale students and researchers can build their futures right here in the Elm City.

“However, their impact is not measured in dollars alone. Rob and Chris are deeply embedded in the educational fabric of the university. Rob has shared his expertise by teaching entrepreneurship at the Yale School of Management for 14 semesters, while both he and Chris serve as vital mentors to aspiring student entrepreneurs.  As Entrepreneurs-in-Residence at Yale Ventures and screeners for Yale-affiliated innovation funds, they offer the strategic capital of their time and wisdom alongside financial investment.  Their work bridges the often-daunting gap between a scientific ‘aha!’ moment and a sustainable company that provides a livelihood for New Haven residents. By nurturing the seeds of academic discovery and rooting them firmly in New Haven soil, Rob and Chris have ensured that the global impacts of Yale’s research remain local at heart.

“For their two decades of economic stewardship, their dedication to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs, and their role in building a sustainable innovation economy for all of New Haven, Mayor Justin Elicker and President Maurie McInnis present Rob Bettigole and Chris McLeod with an Elm Award.”

Dina Natalino, Elm Award

“Dina Natalino is a builder of bridges that do not wash away with the changing of academic seasons or political cycles. For more than 20 years, she has served as a vital link between New Haven Public Schools and Yale University, working with intentionality to ensure that the university’s resources support the needs of New Haven’s students. In her current role as Supervisor for College and Career at NHPS, Dina’s work is not about tracking students into specific jobs or limiting their options, it is about opening doors and giving every student the opportunity to build a foundation for future success.

“New Haven is a city filled with dedicated people and vibrant community-school partnerships.  Dina recognized the potential to take these successful collaborations and make them even more accessible and equity driven. She pioneered the Career-Connected Pathways model, which embeds Yale partnerships directly into formal plans of study. This ensures that a student’s exposure to Yale’s resources — whether it be immersive clinical training at the Yale Center for Healthcare Simulation or specialized laboratory access — is not a matter of chance, but a built-in, guaranteed part of their educational journey. 

“Dina’s approach is effective because it is rooted in deep trust and constant collaboration. She brings Yale to the table on advisory boards and in planning conversations, consistently integrating university partners and industry partners into strategic workforce development efforts. Her work ensures that when a New Haven student dreams of a career in bioscience, medicine, or tech, they see a well-lit path from their high school classroom to the university and beyond. By focusing on systemic change rather than fleeting programs, Dina has built an infrastructure of opportunity that serves hundreds of students each year. She reminds us that the strongest partnerships are those that are woven into the very fabric of our institutions, ensuring that every student has the support they need to reach their full potential.

“For her 20 years of advocacy, her visionary leadership in building scalable pathways for New Haven youth, and her unwavering commitment to educational equity, Mayor Justin Elicker and President Maurie McInnis present Dina Natalino with an Elm Award.”

Leigh Evans, Jay Bonz, and Tatiana Moylan, Ivy Award

“The Yale Simulation Academy is a place where high-stakes medicine meets high-impact mentorship, and it exists because of the extraordinary dedication of Drs. Leigh Evans, Jay Bonz and Tatiana Moylan. This team of faculty members from the Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Emergency Medicine has spent over a decade opening the doors of professional clinical training to New Haven high schoolers. They provide local youth with free, immersive, high-fidelity training in life-saving procedures — such as ultrasound, intubation, and CPR — effectively demystifying the world of the Emergency Room for students who might never have imagined themselves in a medical career.

“Their commitment is profoundly personal and, quite literally, unwavering. As physicians in one of the city’s busiest trauma centers at Yale New Haven Hospital, they lead demanding clinical lives. Yet, as witnessed firsthand by their colleagues, they consistently show up for weekly planning meetings directly from grueling overnight ER shifts — tired and stretched thin, but fully present for the program. They refuse to let their exhaustion stand in the way of a student’s opportunity.

“Beyond the technical skills they teach, they have built an intergenerational community. They have created a model where Simulation Academy graduates return as mentors, passing on their knowledge to the next cohort of students from Wilbur Cross, Hillhouse, and Career high schools. This creates a viable pathway into the healthcare workforce. 

“Beyond the high-stakes environment of the emergency room, these three doctors are doing a different kind of life-saving work. By choosing to be mentors, they’ve turned a simple desire to help into a deep, lasting investment in the community — proving that a physician’s impact doesn’t end when their shift does.

“For their decade of selfless mentorship, their commitment to diversifying the medical field, and their extraordinary time and heart they’ve shared with New Haven students, President Maurie McInnis and Mayor Justin Elicker present Jay Bonz, Leigh Evans, and Tatiana Moylan with an Ivy Award.”

Kevin Charbonneau, Ivy Award

“Kevin Charbonneau has achieved something rare in a large institution: he has turned a technical, regulatory office into an enthusiastic engine for community engagement. As the Director of Yale’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department, Kevin’s job is focused on safety and compliance, but his mission is focused on ‘finding a way to say yes’ to New Haven. Since joining the Committee on Programs for Children and Youth in 2014, he has fundamentally shifted the culture of his office, proving that safety and outreach are not mutually exclusive.

“In the past, informal student science demonstrations in local schools were often viewed as a liability to be managed or halted. Kevin saw them differently: as vital sparks of STEM interest that needed a safe, sustainable home. Rather than shutting these programs down, he proactively provided the professional equipment and safety training necessary to make them institutionally sanctioned and safe for everyone involved. He has personally assessed equipment for Career High School and opened the doors of EHS for career-shadowing, allowing local high schoolers to see the behind-the-scenes science that keeps a major university running.

“Kevin’s ability to foster strong relationships across a complex university ensures that Yale’s scientific resources are not locked behind gates but are accessible to its neighbors. His ‘find a way to say yes’ attitude has allowed STEM engagement to flourish in New Haven’s public schools, removing barriers that once seemed insurmountable. He has built a foundation of trust between the university and the community by showing that Yale’s highest standards of excellence can be used to protect and inspire its neighbors. Kevin’s work reminds us that every department, no matter how technical, has a role to play in the civic life of our city.

“For his innovative leadership in safety and outreach, his ‘yes-first’ approach to community partnership, and his dedication to inspiring the next generation of scientists, President Maurie McInnis and Mayor Justin Elicker present Kevin Charbonneau with an Ivy Award.”

Andrei Harwell, Ivy Award

“Andrei Harwell believes that the most important tool in an architect’s kit is not a drafting pen, but a pair of ears. As a senior critic at the Yale School of Architecture and the director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop, Andrei has spent over two decades practicing a philosophy he calls ‘radical listening’. For Andrei, urban planning is not something done to a city from the ivory tower; it is a powerful vehicle for community organizing that must be done with the people who live there.

“Since joining the Yale Urban Design Workshop over 20 years ago, Andrei has facilitated major projects that have reshaped the landscape of New Haven, including the development of affordable housing and comprehensive neighborhood plans. His methodology is defined by deep, sustained collaboration between Yale students and New Haven citizens. Under his guidance, students learn to see the city not as a blank canvas for their own ideas, but as a living blueprint for collective living that requires respect and humility.

“Andrei’s work ensures that Yale’s institutional resources are used to build more than just buildings; they are used to build civic infrastructure and long-term trust. Whether he is facilitating a neighborhood charrette or mentoring the next generation of architects, he emphasizes that trust is the foundation of any design. By treating every resident as an expert in their own neighborhood, Andrei has fostered a form of urbanism that is as much about social equity as it is about aesthetics. He has taught generations of students that the best designs are those that emerge from the voices of the community, ensuring that New Haven grows in a way that is inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable.

“For his career-long commitment to radical listening, his leadership in community-based design, and his dedication to building a more equitable and collaborative city, President Maurie McInnis and Mayor Justin Elicker present Andrei Harwell with an Ivy Award.”

Katelyn Wang and Johan Zongo, Undergraduate Ivy Award

“Katelyn Wang and Johan Zongo believe that a city’s walls should do more than just hold up buildings — they should tell the stories of its people. As the student leaders of Bright Spaces, a Dwight Hall organization, they have turned public art into a powerful catalyst for community activism and youth mentorship. Since taking the helm in 2024, they have worked to ensure that the diversity of New Haven is reflected in the city’s public landscape.

“Their work is defined by collaboration. Rather than imposing their own artistic vision on the city, Katelyn and Johan partner with New Haven businesses like Noir Vintage and local high schools to design and paint murals that depict civil rights icons and community heroes including Sylvia Mendez, Shirley Chisholm, Thurgood Marshall, and Huey P. Newton. This process involves mentoring local high school students, teaching them artistic techniques while engaging them in conversations about representation and social justice. Through these projects, they are quite literally making the city’s landscape more inclusive and vibrant with every brushstroke.

“Beyond the physical murals, Katelyn and Johan have inspired a new cohort of Yale students to view artistic service as a way to see the humanity of New Haven. They have shown their peers that being a good neighbor means more than just living in a city; it means contributing to its beauty and recognizing its history. Their work is a vibrant reminder that when we create space for diverse representation, we make the entire community stronger and more connected.

“For their creative leadership, their dedication to youth mentorship through art, and their commitment to making New Haven’s public spaces reflect our abundant diversity, President Maurie McInnis and Mayor Justin Elicker present Katelyn Wang and Johan Zongo with an Undergraduate Ivy Award.”

Collin Edouard, Graduate/Professional Student Ivy Award

“Collin Edouard is a Ph.D. candidate whose scholarship lives at the intersection of academic rigor and grassroots healing. Over the past three years, he has redefined the relationship between Yale’s academic spaces and New Haven’s diverse cultural landscape. Collin’s work is rooted in the belief that local practitioners — from Haitian musicians to grassroots activists — are not merely subjects of study, but essential ‘knowledge bearers’ who deserve equal partnership with the university.

“Collin’s impact is felt across a wide range of initiatives. As a leader of the Yale Black Sacred Arts Conference and the ‘Causing Good Trouble’ project, he has bridged the gap between Yale music students and local activists to foster community reciprocity. He has a unique gift for opening historic, on-campus residential spaces like Davenport College to the public, hosting performances by Haitian musicians that celebrate the living traditions of the city’s immigrant and refugee populations. 

“His commitment extends to the next generation through his work with the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services’ Summer Learning Program, where he mentors refugee youth and helps them find their voices through music and storytelling. Collin’s work models a transformative form of scholarship where academic expertise is used to lift up, rather than talk over, community voices. He has shown us that true partnership requires more than just sharing resources; it requires a fundamental respect for the wisdom that exists throughout our city. Through his music and his mentorship, Collin has helped to create community connections and build new bridges of understanding.

“For his transformative scholarship, his dedication to the city’s immigrant and refugee communities, and his leadership in fostering cultural reciprocity, President Maurie McInnis and Mayor Justin Elicker present Collin Edouard with a Graduate/Professional Student Ivy Award.”