Javien L. Smith, MSW, BASW, United States Army Reserve/ Sergeant E-5
The Madeleva Award for Outstanding Graduate Student
May 16, 2026
This year’s recipient of the Madeleva Award for Outstanding Graduate Student is from the Master of Social Work Program.
In his role as the MSW Program Task Force Student Representative, the recipient has surpassed all expectations in serving the College, including development of the first draft Strategic Plan for the MSW Program. The recipient attended classes full-time to earn his MSW degree while simultaneously serving our country, and the MSW degree is the second master’s degree he has earned. In his MSW field placement, the recipient positively impacted every individual, family, and group whom the organization serves through his research, design, and implementation of an Initial Intake Tracking Dashboard to improve visibility of client flow, provider activity, and monthly service trends.
The recipient is founder and owner of The Good Steward LLC, Atlanta, a community-centered organization focused on supporting children, families, and communities through intentional engagement, youth development, and wellness-based programming. He leads initiatives to strengthen community connection, stability, and long-term growth, and creates programming that promotes youth engagement, and mental and emotional well-being through structured activities, mentorship, and relationship-building.
The recipient has served in many positions in which he performed research and service that made a difference to many others, including in the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor, and has assisted HBCU presidents and executive teams with strategic and operational initiatives tied to planning, program development, and institutional effectiveness.
The recipient’s military service as a United States Army Reserve/ Sergeant from 2022 to the present is a stellar example of his outstanding accomplishments and achievements. He brings his clinical MSW skills to the work that he does in the United States Army Reserve. The recipient was selected as Class President during Advanced Individual Training, representing peers and coordinating on training and morale. His military awards and decorations include, among others, the Army Commendation Medal; the Army Achievement Medal; the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal; the Army Good Conduct Medal; and the National Defense Service Ribbon Driver.
The recipient has a unique combination of leadership abilities, intellectual brilliance, compassion, and a passionate drive to make a positive difference in the lives of others. He is not only a visionary leader, but also a hands-on advocate, tirelessly working to bridge gaps and create opportunities for those who have traditionally been excluded, including older adults, children and youth, and underrepresented groups.
In recognition of the recipient’s scholastic distinction and exceptional achievement beyond the national level, we are pleased to honor Javien L. Smith with the 2026 Madeleva Award for Outstanding Graduate Student.