Doctorate in Educational Leadership: Hall of Fame Awards

This past July, the Department of Counseling, Educational Leadership, and Higher Education (CEH) hosted their inaugural Doctor of Education Hall of Fame Awards, where two alumni were recognized for being exceptional leaders in their field with lasting contributions. Drs. Jeff Collier and Heather Maietta were selected by a diverse committee for demonstrating exceptional leadership, research, and impact in the field of education.

“We are so pleased to honor Dr. Maietta and Dr. Collier as a formal representation of the first 25 years of the Doctor of Education Degree at Central Michigan University,” said Dr. Eric Buschlen, Program Director for the Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD). “They are the inaugural winners of this Hall of Fame award and represent our 270+ Doctor of Education alumni, who all do amazing work in the PK-12 and Higher Education arena.”

Both recipients expressed deep gratitude, thanking the awards committee as well as the CEH Department for this distinguished honor. 

“CMU’s educational leadership program has shaped both my professional journey and personal philosophy, instilling in me a deep commitment to advancing educational leadership that centers on service, equity, and innovation,” said Collier, who now serves as the Saginaw Intermediate School District Superintendent. “Each day, I reflect with gratitude on having earned my Doctor of Education degree from Central Michigan University, and I strive to pay it forward in honor of those who paved the way before me.”

Collier added that this honor is not his alone, but is rather a culmination of the students, colleagues, mentors, and servant leaders who have walked alongside him. “As we move forward, may we each continue to lead with purpose, inspire through action, and remain dedicated to creating inclusive educational space where every student can thrive.”

Maietta, Professor and Associate Program Chair for the EdD Higher Education Leadership program at Regis College, said that the label “Dr.” means something different to everyone, but to her, it means believing in herself and staying the course. “During my higher ed career, I’ve bounced between faculty and administration, built programs, taught everything from organizational theory to how to publish your dissertation without crying, and support students who set and achieve big dreams,” she said.

While Maietta may have not taken the traditional road, she’s learned that “nontraditional” is just academic-speak for “a really interesting journey.” She continued, “this award symbolizes something bigger than all of us: that higher education works best when it blends scholarship with purpose, mentorship with real-world prep, and supportive environments where people just ‘get you.’”

The Hall of Fame Awards were first announced by Dr. Beth Feiten in July of 2024 at the Doctorate in Education 25^th Anniversary event as a joint venture between the CEH department and it’s Doctor of Education Alumni Group. Feiten, a graduate of the program and the Certification Officer for Oakland University, also serves as Chair of the Alumni Group.

Following the announcement in 2024, criteria for the awards were developed as well as a diverse selection committee consisting of program alumni. The committee blindly evaluated nominees on a variety of categories including educational leadership and impact, innovative practice or research, equity and inclusion, service and mentorship, and sustained contributions. From here, the top-scoring candidates were reviewed in a final deliberation meeting.

The awards were presented on Monday, July 21, 2025, with the EdD program’s new Cohort #30 in attendance along with their “Get ConnnectEdD” mentors. These mentors, who are all volunteer alumnus, were strategically assigned to each member of Cohort #30 earlier in the year to help them transition to doctoral studies.

“There are few professional roles in the world that compare to that of an educator,” added Buschlen. “Dr. Maietta and Dr. Collier have set the bar high, and we are so pleased with their exemplary work to date.” As the EdD program looks ahead at the next 25 years, they plan to continue this award each year through the ongoing support from the CEH Department and the Doctor of Education Alumni Board.