Michael Hagearty
Institute Communications and Public Affairs
College of
Engineering Dean Don Giddens announced last week
that Gary May, professor and executive assistant
to the president, will be the new chair for the School
of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
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| Gary May |
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The School is
one of Tech’s largest, boasting more than 130
faculty members and 2,300 students at all degree levels.
At the undergraduate level, students
choose to major in either electrical or computer engineering. Last fall, U.S.
News and World Report ranked Tech’s programs as sixth and seventh in the
nation, respectively. As chair, May will assume the duties of Roger Webb, who
retired in December.
“I am very gratified by the confidence shown
by Dean Don Giddens, the search committee and my colleagues
in selecting me to lead the School of ECE,” he
said. “I am also humbled by the prospect of following in the footsteps
of Roger Webb, who I very much admire and respect, but excited by the challenges
and opportunities that this new appointment entails.”
Those opportunities,
May added, will help enhance the School’s profile.
“My immediate priorities are threefold,” he
said. “I plan to
be very involved in development activities to raise operational funds for
the School, as well as to improve our facilities. I
would like to find more mechanisms
to tell our story of research innovation and educational leadership that
I feel is very compelling. I also plan to work hard
to enhance the diversity of ECE
students and faculty.”
May earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical
engineering from Tech in 1985, moving on to the University of California
at Berkeley for his master’s
and doctoral degrees. He returned to Tech as an assistant professor in
1991 and accepted the Motorola Foundation Professorship in 2001.
In addition
to his teaching and research career, May has gradually become more
active as an administrator as well. For the past three
years, May
has served
as executive assistant to the president, acting as President Clough’s
chief liaison both on and off campus.
May has also been intimately involved
in developing programs aimed at increasing the number of minority
students who pursue advanced degrees.
Two such programs — the
Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Science (SURE) and Facilitating
Academic Careers in Engineering and Science (FACES) — have
secured more than $11 million from the National Science Foundation.
Giddens
said the breadth of his leadership experience made him the
ideal choice.
“In his professional life, Gary May has demonstrated
insight and commitment. Not only has he amassed an
impressive research and teaching record, but also
he has dedicated himself to mentor and encourage students to
earn advanced degrees and pursue careers in academia.
Moreover, he has tirelessly represented his School,
College and Institute with good humor and class. With thanks
to the search committee
for its effort, we are privileged to have Gary serve as the new
chair of ECE.”
May said his new role will demand
a shift in priorities, but will not alter his interests.
“I plan to continue to pursue my own research,
albeit at a somewhat reduced level,” he said. “After
all, leading the ECE community will require the bulk
of my time and attention. I also plan to stay involved
in diversity
programs like SURE and FACES, but hope to find colleagues willing
to share the leadership responsibilities of those important
activities.”
May underscored that it was the support
of others who have played key roles in his success.
“I would like to gratefully acknowledge three
people: Roger Webb and Wayne Clough, who have been
the two best bosses and professional mentors one could
ever hope to have; and my wife LeShelle, who is a more understanding
and supportive
spouse than I probably deserve.”
President Clough thanked
May for his service and counsel as his executive assistant,
and congratulated him on his
new appointment.
“Gary has proven himself to be an outstanding
mentor, a first-rate researcher and an excellent member
of my staff,” he said. “While we will miss
his daily presence in Carnegie, his leadership of ECE will
be exceedingly important for the future of the College
of Engineering and Georgia Tech. I’m very
proud of his accomplishments on behalf of the President’s
Office and know that his best days are ahead. We’re
very fortunate to have someone of Gary’s
caliber follow in the sizeable footsteps of Roger Webb.”
In
the coming months, President Clough will appoint May’s
successor as executive assistant, initiating the transition
process and the transfer of duties.
It is hoped that he will fully assume his new role by the
end of the semester.
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