Inside the Community Mental Health Fellows Program

In 2018, the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) partnered with Dwight Hall to launch the Community Mental Health Fellows program, beginning with an inaugural cohort of seven undergraduates. The program was designed to support research and community-based initiatives while broadening the pipeline of students pursuing educational and career pathways in public health. 

Led by Director of the Service Track and Connecticut Mental Health Center Foundation Director Kyle Pedersen ’02 M.A.R., Director of the Research Track Dr. Sarah Fineberg, and Dwight Hall Director of Programming and Evaluation Mark Fopeano, the program has since expanded to include two dozen fellows who serve the New Haven community while gaining experience and advancing their academic and professional pursuits in public health service. 

The program is divided into two tracks, Service and Research, and provides stipends or work-study options so students can financially support their education while benefiting from site-specific experiential learning opportunities. 

According to Dr. Fineberg, the Service Track focuses on “the structural level of mental healthcare,” with projects centered on “understanding and improving systems of care, mental healthcare policy, and connections between the mental health center and community organizations.” 

In contrast, the Research Track focuses on “the mechanisms of illness,” with projects that include working with clinical research patients to understand how clinical interviews build rapport, investigating mental processes in individuals, and more. 

“We were inspired by our former CEO at CMHC, Dr. Michael Sernyak, who wanted to offer meaningful ways for students to get involved, gain experience, and pursue academic and career interests in public health—especially public mental health,” Kyle explained. This dedication helped spur the development of the program. Today, the Community Mental Health Fellows cohort has grown to more than 20 students. 

When asked about the program, Kyle stated that he “believes it fosters greater awareness of the New Haven community, something students truly appreciate.” It encourages students to get involved academically and professionally, prompting them to ask, “What can I do?” 

“Approximately 85–90% of those we serve are from New Haven, with the remainder coming from surrounding communities,” Kyle continued. “As a teaching and learning facility, we recognize that students bring vitality to our work. Our colleagues value collaborating with students as part of a clinical team, and the experience is mutually beneficial for both students and staff.” 

Dwight Hall has been fundamental to the development and growth of the program. “The great thing about Dwight Hall is the contact and the ability they have to engage with students. They also have important connections within the college community. If students are struggling, Dwight Hall is able to connect us with resources to help them so that they can continue participating in the Fellows program or choose their own pathways. That’s invaluable to us,” Kyle stated. 

When asked what they were most proud of throughout the program’s development, Dr. Fineberg said, “We are especially proud of supporting students as they develop a vision of how public mental health work can align with their own interests and values through experiential learning at the Connecticut Mental Health Center.” She continued, “We are also grateful for the partnership with Dwight Hall at Yale and the sustained commitment of CMHC mentors, some of whom have been involved since the program’s inception.” 

One fellow who has benefited from the program is Matthew Verich ’26. Matthew currently serves as a coordinator for the Community Mental Health Fellows program on the Research Track. He works as a research and program intern with the Connecticut Mental Health Center, investigating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and advancing lab research. 

When asked about the program, Matthew said, “Being part of a supportive research team that deeply cares about each patient and study participant has shaped the way I hope to practice as a future psychiatrist. Through engaging talks and memorable dinners, this fellowship has helped me build genuine connections with fellow Yale students who care deeply about community mental health.” 

Sean Liu ’26, a student leader of the Service Track, expressed comparable sentiments. 

Sean shared that being a Community Mental Health Fellow has been an incredibly eye-opening experience. According to Sean, “‘learn-by-doing’ experiences have exposed me to the breadth of community mental health professions while supporting a real clinical service at CMHC.” He continued, “I entered the program not knowing much about schizophrenia spectrum disorders and will be leaving with a deep appreciation for psychosis, the profound life challenges it entails, and how the STEP Clinic’s multidisciplinary team works at a systems level to deliver effective early psychosis care across Connecticut.” 

Looking ahead, the program plans to expand its offerings and continue providing opportunities for students who want to get involved in mental healthcare yet are unsure where to begin. 

According to Kyle, “We need all kinds of people in health care in general. We want people who pursue medicine and allied fields, but we also need artists and thinkers who can communicate effectively about health care and scientific development.” The Community Mental Health Fellows program helps build this bridge and expand conceptions of who should be actively involved in mental healthcare. “There are many opportunities, and we want students from all disciplines to be actively involved in this program.” 

The Community Mental Health Fellows experience exemplifies the Grow pillar of Dwight Hall’s Engage, Grow, and Advance program delivery model, which develops Yale students’ intellectual, moral, civic, and creative capacities to the fullest through experiential learning, fellowships, mentorship, and training.