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May Named Interim Provost, Academic VP at ASU

July 05, 2011

Dr. Brian J. May, whose tenure as dean of graduate studies has seen record enrollment growth in Angelo State University’s graduate programs, has been named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at the university.

ASU President Joseph C. Rallo announced the appointment, effective immediately, for a term not to exceed two years. May, a tenured professor of animal science, will continue to hold his position as dean of the College of Graduate Studies during the interim appointment as provost. He succeeds Dr. Tony Blose, who announced his resignation as provost last month to return to teaching.

Rallo, who solicited nominations from the campus for the interim appointment in the wake of Blose’s resignation, said May’s familiarity with Angelo State, both as a faculty member and as a successful administrator, made him the perfect candidate for the interim position. Additionally, he said May could be a candidate for the permanent position when that search opens.

“Dr. May has led the graduate program to record levels of enrollment, while also playing an active role in the varied initiatives designed to achieve our enrollment goal of 10,000 students by the year 2020,” Rallo said. “Well respected on campus and in the community, Dr. May has been an exceptional partner in our efforts to secure funding at federal level for our Center for Security Studies and in conjunction with our status as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

“Overall, Dr. May’s skills are perfectly suited for the challenges we face in maintaining a quality academic program in the face of reduced budgets and academic realignment,” Rallo said.

May joined the ASU faculty in 1994. He was named interim dean of graduate studies in 2009, an appointment that was made permanent the following year.

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.

During his ASU tenure, May has served as president of the Faculty Senate and as special assistant to the president for external affairs.

Prior to joining the ASU faculty, May served as executive director of the Mohair Council of America and gained extensive administrative and governmental relations experience for the trade organization. During his seven-year tenure with the council, he promoted mohair all over the world.

He has been active in community affairs. In 2008 May was named “Citizen of the Year” by the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce after he chaired the 2007 task force which promoted the successful passage of a $117 million bond issue for needed improvements in the San Angelo Independent School District.

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 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.

An alumnus of Angelo State, May has been active in the ASU Alumni Association and was a key player in the association’s successful effort in 2007 to make the university part of the Texas Tech University System. May has served on the association’s board of directors for many years and is a past president of the organization.

May is a long-time member of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, having served on numerous chamber committees and boards. He also serves on the board of directors of Texas Bank in San Angelo.

May earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both in Animal Science, from ASU before completing 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 is married to the former Patti Bynum, also an ASU alum. Their family includes daughters Morgan May and Mackenzie May Holik and son-in-law Brian Holik.