New Haven is famed for its Wooster Square pizza, for fine shopping along Chapel Street, and of course as the home of Yale University. Perhaps less well-known, but equally impressive, is Yale University School of Nursing student Everol Ennis '09, a New Haven native who has returned to his home city to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Raised in Newhallville, a working-class, residential area of the Elm City, Everol is a product of the New Haven Public School system. He graduated from Hillhouse High School at the young age of 16, after skipping a grade in middle school due to his academic acumen. Everol found himself a leader at Hillhouse, despite being younger than his classmates.

"I never really noticed that I was younger than all of those in my graduating class," Everol commented. "Thankfully I took my junior and senior year seriously, and that enabled me to take on many leadership roles in high school." This included the Young Men's Leadership Group, Mock Trial, Science Club, and the Drama Club. It comes as no surprise to those who know him that Everol was voted "Best Personality" in his graduating class.

Led by the value his family places on education and responsibility, the sixteen-year-old moved after graduation to Washington, DC, to attend Howard University.

"My family is very close-knit and education is very much emphasized," Everol added. "After high school, I was given three options: college, military, or work. Fortunately, I was able to go to Howard." Despite a slow start, he thrived at Howard and graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology, followed by a Master's of Education in Counseling Psychology.

After his time in the nation's capital, Everol returned home to New Haven with two college degrees and a new perspective on his city. "When I came back from DC, I became really involved with various community organizations. Through that, in addition to being brought up in New Haven, I had a unique perspective on all of the gangs, drugs, and violence that are so pervasive," he added. "It is only by the grace of God, and a healthy fear of my mom, that I was able to achieve what I did."

Soon after returning to New Haven, Everol worked for a private mental health agency and then joined the Yale Child Study Center, part of the Yale School of Medicine, as Director of Professional Development for the School Development Program. After seven years of working for that arm of the university, Everol acknowledged a continual tug to pursue nursing. His desire to become an advanced practice nurse stemmed from his adolescence, when the face of his health care was an APRN. "I decided it was time to 'scratch the itch' and enter the health care field," he stated.

Everol applied to a variety of nursing programs, planning to attend school at night and keep his position at Yale. He also applied to YSN's Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing (GEPN) program, a three-year full-time course of study that combines preparation in basic nursing with advanced work in a clinical specialty and in nursing research. After interviewing at YSN, Everol knew this was the place for him.

"As a kid growing up in New Haven, I never even thought of attending Yale as an undergraduate student," Everol noted. "It wasn't until I was older and already had two degrees that I realized I could fit in at Yale, and I certainly feel that I have during my three years at YSN." Everol has studied at YSN in the Adult and Gerontology tracks, and after his graduation in May, he will hold the titles of msn, ANP, and GNP. In his three years at YSN, he has served clinical assignments at Yale-New Haven Hospital (neurology unit and diabetes concentration), St. Raphael's Hospital (oncology), Hamden Healthcare (nursing home), Connecticut Medical Group (private practice), West Haven Veterans Hospital (hospice and homecare), Hill Health Center (community health care), Hebrew Health Center (geriatrics), and Yale Health Plan (diabetes).

In addition to his very full academic and clinical load, Everol has been a leader of community involvement at YSN. This includes serving with the City of New Haven's Commission on Aging, the Connecticut State Office of Veteran's Affairs "Stand Down," YSN's annual "Healthy Neighbor's Day," DESK (Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen), the "Have Bones, Will Travel" educational program, HAVEN Free Clinic, Yale's Homelessness and Hunger Auction, the NAACP Health and Career Expo, the Neighborhood Health Project, and YSN's Student Government Organization.

In 2008, YSN recognized Everol's outstanding commitment to those in need by presenting him with its Community Service Award. "I have a moral obligation to give back to my city," he added. "There are a lot of people in New Haven living with challenging circumstances. I just want to make a helpful contribution."

Everol still lives in New Haven, with his wife, Ciarra, and his one-year-old son, Evan. "The decision to go back to school was mostly due to my wife Ciarra's support and would not have been possible without her," he added. "It is important for me to express my gratitude to her for everything that she has done toward helping realize my goals. And right now, my inspiration and motivation as I finish up at Yale is my son, Evan."

It is his continual involvement and investment in New Haven that gives Everol a unique perspective on the town-gown relationship. "There are preconceived notions and stereotypes on both sides, and most of them are not nice or accurate. I have lived on both sides--a New Haven resident and a Yale student--and I would love to see any barriers eliminated. I really try to deal with the individuals on both sides of the fence and not the 'reputation' of New Haven or Yale."

This perspective and attitude make Everol Ennis a highly valued member of both the city of New Haven and Yale University.

Dowload article (pdf)