May Named ASU Provost
April 23, 2012
ASU President Joseph C. Rallo announced the appointment, effective immediately. May, who holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ASU, had held the position on an interim basis since last July. He was one of four finalists interviewed for the job.
Rallo said, “My assessment matched the search committee’s recommendation that Dr. May was the candidate with the qualifications most needed by Angelo State University at this time. His knowledge of ASU, his experience working with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and his leadership skills make him a perfect fit for the university and give him the ability to hit the ground running to advance our shared vision for Angelo State.”
“I am honored,” May said, “to be able to serve my alma mater as provost. Angelo State certainly opened up a world of opportunity for me, and I want to ensure that our students have even broader options for success.”
May holds an academic appointment as professor of animal science and research scientist, and since 2009 has been dean of the College of Graduate Studies, a position he held concurrently with his interim provost post. Under his leadership, graduate enrollment has grown 60 percent from the time he assumed responsibilities as dean until this past fall.
Additionally, he has served as special assistant to the president for external affairs since 2007, working closely with elected officials in Austin and Washington, D.C., helping secure $4 million in special line item funding from the state for ASU’s nursing program and $5.4 million from the Department of Defense to establish the Center for Security Studies.
May is also a former president of the ASU Faculty Senate and the ASU Alumni Association, where he chaired the building and fundraising committee that built the LeGrand Alumni and Visitors Center. He was a key player in the alumni association’s successful effort in 2007 to make the university part of the Texas Tech University System.
A long-time member of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, May was named “Citizen of the Year” by the chamber in 2008. He chaired the task force which promoted the successful passage of a $117 million bond issue for needed improvements in the San Angelo Independent School District. He also serves on the board of directors of Texas Bank in San Angelo.
May is a past president of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association and was active in the movement to pass and then extend a half-cent sales tax in San Angelo to enhance fairgrounds facilities, including the 1st Community Federal Credit Union Spur Arena. He was recipient of the association’s first Golden Spur award, given to individuals for exceptional contributions to the stock show.
As a faculty member, May’s academic responsibilities have been split evenly between teaching and research over the years. He has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in animal science and conducted nutritional, physiological and behavioral research on cattle, sheep and goats. He has served on the ASU Research Enhancement Committee as well as on several thesis committees. He has published numerous refereed journal articles and abstracts as well as made multiple presentations at state, national and international conventions.
Prior to joining the ASU faculty, May served as executive director of the Mohair Council of America and gained extensive administration and governmental relations experience with the trade organization. During his seven-year tenure with the council, he promoted mohair all over the world.
May earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both in animal science, from ASU before earning a Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition from Texas A&M University in 1987. His research interests include the effect of growth implants on feedlot lamb performance and carcass characteristics, performance testing of meat goat male kids and the use of rumen escape protein sources on performance of growing and finishing bulls.
May and his wife, Patti, have two daughters, Morgan May and Mackenzie May Holik.