LIVONIA, MICH. – Maria Mitter, a Madonna University dual alumna, earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2001, and a master's degree in business leadership in 2009. She has built a distinguished 24-year career in education administration, and currently serves as the supervisor of community partnerships and outreach for the Wayne-Westland Community Schools. She manages grant-funded projects, writes and administers grants, and builds partnerships through community outreach.
Mitter transferred to Madonna and completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2001. She earned a Master of Social Work at the University of Michigan and began her career as a juvenile case worker, and later moved into roles in K-12 education, where she supported vulnerable families and connected them to community resources. Mitter believes that Madonna laid a solid foundation for her career by preparing her for situations she would encounter in fieldwork. Her positive undergraduate experience, coupled with aspirations to move into an administrative role, prompted her to return to Madonna to complete a master’s degree in business leadership in 2009.
“Having a background in psychology, social work, and business has given me a wide range of understanding and the ability to navigate different systems and people effectively.”
Mitter describes her time at Madonna as “the best education I have received.” She thrived in Madonna's small community where she was able to “connect with my colleagues, get the support I needed, and help other students by taking notes for the hearing impaired, and providing tutoring.”
Her relationship with her professors was the best part of her Madonna experience, especially Jim O'Neil, Edie Woods, and Jane Kessler, whom she described as “incredibly influential” during her time as a student. “They were always available to support me as a student,” she recalled. “I always knew I would be moving onto a master's program. They were very eager to help me navigate the different programs and tracks for my graduate studies.”
She also appreciated the real-world perspectives shared by her professors. “They were working in the field, not just doing research,” she explained.
A member of Madonna’s Alumni Board, she also serves as president of the Westland Rotary Club, a member of the board of directors of the Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce, and chair of the Wayne-Westland Education Foundation.
