Yale SOM Launches Inclusive Growth Fellowship Program

The Yale School of Management today announced the launch of the Inclusive Growth Fellowship, a collaboration with the Center for Inclusive Growth, through which Yale SOM students will work on projects aimed at increasing economic growth in ways that broadly benefit New Haven residents. The school also named the first class of fellows, who will consult with city agencies on topics such as affordable housing, sustainability, and business development.

The Center for Inclusive Growth is a historic partnership between the City of New Haven and Yale University that will develop and implement strategies to ensure that economic growth in the city benefits all city residents. The Inclusive Growth Fellowship is Yale SOM’s first major programmatic contribution to the center. The school plans to develop additional collaborative programs. 

Yale President Peter Salovey noted that the Inclusive Growth Fellowship sets the tone for future engagements with the Center for Inclusive Growth. “This new fellowship program exemplifies the strength of Yale and New Haven’s long-standing partnership. As the Center for Inclusive Growth builds an infrastructure to promote equitable economic growth with our home city, more Yale faculty, students, and staff will have the opportunity to contribute their expertise and to learn from others in our shared communities,” said Salovey.

The inaugural cohort of Inclusive Growth Fellows includes first- and second-year MBA students, a joint-degree student, and a student from the healthcare management program. They will work under the direction of city agencies throughout the spring semester. The city selected the projects for the inaugural year and shared them with students at a well-attended presentation in October. The fellowship received 65 applications for the eight slots. MBA student Niall Dammando ’24 is supporting the program as the Inclusive Growth Fellowship Program Assistant.

Yale SOM Dean Kerwin Charles, who has played a pivotal role in helping to launch the Center for Inclusive Growth by convening discussions with city residents and other stakeholders, said that he is delighted that Yale SOM can contribute to the joint New Haven–Yale initiative. “Interest from students has been phenomenal,” said Charles. “I think they see in this program a chance to apply our mission of educating leaders for business and society to the community where we live and work every day. The fellowship will also be a rewarding experience for students; they will gain a deeper understanding of how economic growth really happens. Students come to Yale SOM to learn how to make a difference, and this is an experiential lesson in just that.”

The consulting projects that students will work on in spring 2024 are:

Mid-stage Business Initiative
How can New Haven support mid-sized businesses as they expand and keep them here to succeed in New Haven? 

• Malcolm Cardona-Spence ’24
• Hannah Adams ’25

Lowering the Barrier to Housing in New Haven
What would it entail to deliver an affordable unit at lower cost so that the city can continue to house all of our residents with a variety of stock?

• Rachel Harmon ’25, LAW ’25
• Thomas M. Martinez ’25 

The Mass Timber Ecosystem
How can construction with sustainable products be customized through local fabrication, using local labor and supply chains? 

• Michael Yanagisawa ’25
• Clara Usandizaga ’25

Local Procurement with Anchor Institutions
How can local anchor institutions (higher ed, healthcare, etc.) incorporate local hiring, direct procurement, and local investing?

• Laurence Spekterman ’24
• Renee Osagiede MPH ’25

The Yale SOM Inclusive Growth Fellowship Program is made possible thanks to generous support provided by the Amman Community Impact Fund.