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Jordan Madden Earns Trotter Award for Outstanding Student Leadership and Involvement
Michael Sanseviro (left), Vice President for Student Engagement, presents Jordan Madden (right) with the Nell Hamilton Trotter award at the 110th commencement exercises of Georgia State University in Spring 2025.
Jordan Madden of Atlanta was honored with Georgia State University’s Nell Hamilton Trotter Award during the university’s 110th commencement exercises in May.
The award recognizes an outstanding commitment to student involvement and is the highest student leadership award presented by the university.
A native of Atlanta, Madden earned an undergraduate degree in public policy with a concentration in governance and management and a minor in English. During his time at Georgia State, Madden held executive leadership positions in several organizations, notably the Student Government Association and The 1913 Society.
His leadership was characterized not only by his organizational skills and dedication but by his compassionate approach to his peers and fellow student leaders. Madden worked tirelessly to ensure that all students were heard and that their voices were represented.
His integrity, empathy and clear commitment to serving the student body made him an ideal leader. Madden also held leadership positions in the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Social Action Alliance, Public Policy Club, Young Democrats, Tighter Grip and My Brother’s Keeper, and served on the Student Activity Fee Committee. Madden served as a legislative aide for state Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta) and worked with the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) in Georgia as a legislative and policy intern. He also worked as an advocate for the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition and served as one of the inaugural Gloria S. Butler Fellows.
Madden has received honors from the University System of Georgia and has authored several op-eds and articles centered on education equity, environmental sustainability and student advocacy. Informed by faith and purpose, Madden is pursuing his calling to ministry while continuing his academic journey by obtaining a Master of Public Policy at Georgia State.
He hopes to build a career addressing Georgia’s toughest policy challenges and improving the lives of underserved communities. This summer, he will also marry his best friend and fiancée, whom he met through his involvement at Georgia State.
Nell Hamilton Trotter, the inspiration for the award, was a loyal member of the Georgia State University community for nearly 40 years. She was the first dean of women at Georgia State and served for many years as a dedicated faculty member. Dean Trotter personified the ideal qualities students, particularly student leaders, are expected to emulate.
More About Nell Hamilton Trotter
Nell Hamilton Trotter was born in 1904 in Hartford, Arkansas. She attended Maryville College, Tennessee, and the University of New Mexico, before obtaining her BA in History and Political Science from the University of Arkansas (1924), and, after a short time teaching in the public school system, her MA in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin (1929). While she was studying at the University of Wisconsin, Nell met Richard (Dick) Trotter.
The couple married 28 August 1929, and not long after, moved to Atlanta Georgia, where Dick was offered a job at Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1931, having enrolled at the Georgia Tech Downtown Evening School of Commerce (later Georgia State College and eventually Georgia State University), Trotter made her first enquiries about the possibility of a faculty position at the school, only to be told that it was not the school’s policy to hire women to its faculty.
In 1933, after the birth of her first son, Richard, Nell made further enquiries about a faculty position, with the result that she was hired. In 1947, because she felt she needed more time with her family, Mrs. Trotter resigned her position, returning in 1953. During her time off she did some freelance writing work, and as a result became interested in teaching business communication. Mrs. Trotter remained at Georgia State College and University until 1971, when she retired.
During her tenure at GSU, Nell Trotter taught classes in social ethics, home economics, history, political science, and business communication. She went on to become Assistant Dean of Students, Dean of Women, and Assistant Professor of Business Education. She was chairman of the Board of Founders of the George M. Sparks Scholarship Fund, and having been an active member of the Georgia Association of Deans, was elected to serve as president in 1961. In 1963 she became president of the Atlanta branch of the American Association of University Women, and served as co-chairman of the Educational Committee of the Georgia Commission on the Status of Women.
In 1962 she was named the 1961 Atlanta Woman of the Year in Education and overall Atlanta Woman of the Year. She was also included in Who’s Who Among American Women.
In 1964-1965, Mrs. Trotter traveled around the world as a student of the University of the Seven Seas, and during the trip, lectured at colleges in India and Japan. Atlanta Mayor, Sam Massell proclaimed May 17, 1971 Nell H. Trotter Day. After retirement Nell and Dick Trotter moved to Daytona Beach, Florida. Mr. Trotter died 26 March 1976, and Mrs. Trotter died Feb. 18, 1996, at age 91.
Information was adapted from ArchivesSpace at the GSU Library.