At this year’s LUTE Reception, we proudly to celebrated Joh’vonni Smith, the inaugural recipient of the Chi Sigma Iota Urban Transformative Leadership Award in Counseling, a distinction that recognizes exceptional leadership and impact within urban education and counseling.

This prestigious award honors counselors who demonstrate a commitment to equity, advocacy, and transformative practice. Recipients are not only leaders in their field but also catalysts for meaningful change, working to dismantle barriers and expand access to mental health resources and opportunities for historically under-served communities.

About the Award

The Chi Sigma Iota Urban Transformative Leadership Award in Counseling recognizes outstanding professionals whose work reflects:

• Culturally responsive counseling practices that honor the lived experiences of diverse communities
• Advocacy for social justice and human rights, particularly within urban contexts
• Dedication to closing gaps in opportunity, attainment, and mental health access
• Commitment to mentoring and developing diverse counselors prepared to lead with compassion and competence

Recipients embody the core values of the counseling profession, scholarship, professionalism, leadership, and excellence, while advancing a vision of counseling that is inclusive, equitable, and transformative.

Honoring Joh’vonni Smith

Joh’vonni Smith exemplifies these values through her unwavering dedication to students, clients, the community, and the counseling profession. Her work reflects an integration of leadership and care, grounded in a commitment to uplifting voices and fostering environments where all individuals can thrive.

As the inaugural recipient of this award, Joh’vonni sets a precedent, demonstrating what it means to lead with intention, advocate with courage, and serve with compassion. Her contributions inspire not only her peers but also the next generation of counselors committed to equity and transformation.

Additional Honors at the LUTE Reception

The LUTE Reception also celebrated outstanding scholars in the counseling community. Hawa Dukuray, George Elias, and Ling Yun Chen were honored as Milman Scholarship recipients, recognizing their academic excellence, dedication to the profession, use of arts in counseling, and as emerging leaders in the profession.

Looking Ahead

The presentation of the Chi Sigma Iota Urban Transformative Leadership Award marks the beginning of an important tradition, one that celebrates and elevates leaders who are reshaping the future of counseling in urban communities.

We are honored to recognize Joh’vonni Smith and all honorees at the LUTE Reception and look forward to continuing to uplift transformative leaders whose work makes a lasting difference.