June 26, 2024
Wilhelmina Collier completes a 50-year journey to a bachelor’s degree at Ferris State University through Statewide and Online courses
It was about a three-hour drive from the Detroit area to Big Rapids for Wilhelmina Collier to receive her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, graduating Magna Cum Laude – but it was a journey nearly 50 years in the making.
And, in some ways, she’s just getting started.
Wilhelmina Collier's cap during the spring 2024 commencement had an inspiring message.
“I was a 1974 graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit and already had some collegiate core credits through Wayne State University, by participating in Upward Bound during the summers,” Collier said. “By 1976, I had a daughter and decided I could not continue my studies. The year after, I joined the Detroit Police Department.”
That was the start of a 30-year career in law enforcement in Detroit, including 15 years as a sergeant.
“I had some jobs after retiring from the police force. One job was at Wayne County Community College,” Collier said. “While working there, I took the courses I needed to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree.”
Having resumed her studies, Collier considered her loved ones’ accomplishments and matched them.
“My daughter spent 21 years with the Detroit Police Department. She earned a bachelor’s degree and is now retired,” Wilhelmina said. “My granddaughter has a bachelor’s degree and is a teacher. I found out about Ferris’ ‘3+1’ degree program available through Wayne County Community College and wanted to get mine, too.”
Collier started with coursework through a Ferris-Statewide Center in Harper Woods. Like a student of any age, Spring 2020 found the COVID-19 pandemic ending face-to-face instruction for a quick conversion to online learning.
“That was a brand-new experience for me. It really called for an adjustment in my studies,” Collier said. “What happened because of the pandemic was the same for everyone, so I did what was necessary to meet my requirements and keep on toward my degree.”
The process continued into 2024. Collier wrapped up her Criminal Justice curriculum online through Ferris State with a 3.89 GPA.
“Julius Moses, my advisor in Detroit, kept after me to finish the degree and said I should think about participating in commencement,” Collier said. “I had friends I have known since we were young who were heading to Ferris for the golden anniversary of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity a week before my ceremony. I called the university and got my name in the commencement program at the last moment. That made me really want to attend. I decided by “walking’ in May, I wouldn’t have to travel three hours from the Detroit area for ceremonies this December.”
Coming to Ferris State’s Ewigleben Sports Complex for her ceremony marked Wilhelmina’s first visit to Big Rapids.
“I enjoyed being part of commencement and saw I was not the only ‘seasoned’ person receiving a degree,” Collier said. “Now that I am a Ferris alumna, I am considering some postgraduate study. I believe my law enforcement career and community college experience would make me valuable as an instructor at that level.”