A group of Yale School of Medicine physicians who introduce New Haven students to potential future 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 were among the recipients of the 2026 Seton Elm-Ivy awards.
The awards, which are given 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 honor individuals from the broader New Haven community, while the Ivy awards are given to Yale staff members, faculty, or students.
Recipients of the Elm Awards were 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 were given 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).
Awards were presented by Yale President Maurie McInnis and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker during an awards 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:
