Chancellor Joe May
Contact: Alex Lyda;
alyda@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — May 14, 2021
(DALLAS) — In a special meeting of the Dallas College Board of Trustees today, Chancellor Joe May announced his intent to retire from his role, effective Aug. 31, 2022. Though May’s current contract term expires in August 2023, taking this action now will give the board time to develop an appropriate transition plan.
May became the seventh chancellor of the former Dallas County Community College District in February 2014. Under his leadership, the institution tackled many of the community’s most challenging issues, including regional workforce needs, providing opportunity equality, the negative impacts of income disparity and growth of minority-owned businesses. Realizing that Dallas College couldn’t address these issues alone, May created the Career Connected Learner Network, a partnership of more than 200 area organizations including Independent School Districts (ISDs), universities, employers and community organizations, all with a common goal — to provide real opportunities to earn a living wage for Dallas County residents.
“Dr. Joe May is a true visionary who has made a permanent impact on Dallas College and Dallas County,” said Board of Trustees Chair Monica Bravo. “He understands the challenges that our students face and has led the creation of programs to reduce obstacles that may force them to choose between college or life’s necessities, including DART transportation passes, food pantries and emergency aid funds. Dr. May understands that education is transformational and can significantly change not only the life of a student but also their family and community for generations.”
Along with the Dallas College Foundation, May led the formation of Dallas County Promise, a pioneering program that covers the cost of tuition not covered by federal or state financial aid at Dallas College and partner universities. More than 26,000 students, from 57 high schools across 11 school districts, in Dallas County have enrolled in higher education since the program began only three years ago, creating a wide and generational impact on area residents.
In 2020, May led the consolidation of the district’s seven separate colleges into a singly accredited institution, Dallas College, to better serve the needs of more than 150,000 North Texas students.
“It has been an honor to serve as chancellor of this institution for the past seven years. Throughout this time, I have been humbled by the commitment and hard work of the Dallas College Board of Trustees and our employees, who are truly passionate about transforming lives through higher education,“ May said.
“While the journey hasn’t always been easy, the chance to serve our students and lead our institution’s transition to Dallas College has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I am very grateful to have had an impact on this outstanding community and look forward to continuing to engage with many of our partners — in a different capacity — to help address the issues facing Dallas County.”
May drove the expansion of early college pathways for Dallas County students, including dual-credit enrollment and growth of Early College High School and Pathways to Technology (P-TECH) High School programs, through which students at area ISDs can graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time. Last year, more than 2,000 high school seniors graduated with both credentials, giving them a jumpstart toward a career and a living wage.
To meet the early childhood teacher shortage in North Texas, May sought authorization for Dallas College to offer a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education — a first in the institution’s five-decade history. This new program begins serving students this fall to meet the high demand for teachers in Dallas County.
Driven by his commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, May serves as the founding president of
Rebuilding America’s Middle Class (RAMC), a national consortium of community colleges. As the president of RAMC, he was involved in pushing Congress to reinstate year-round Pell Grants and second chance Pell Grants for the currently incarcerated.
Prior to his role at Dallas College, May served as president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, president for the Colorado Community College System and Pueblo Community College president before accepting the system’s CEO position. He also served in leadership roles at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas; Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, and Vernon College in Vernon, Texas.
A native of East Texas, May earned his Doctorate in Education from Texas A&M-Commerce. He also holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
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