Selected as the seventh chancellor of Dallas College, Dr. Joe May assumed his duties leading the seven-campus, 165,000-student system in late February 2014. Throughout his career, May has expanded opportunities for students who want to pursue a bachelor's degree by starting at a community college. At the same time, he brings a strong commitment to improving the Dallas economy by helping to grow middle-class jobs. He is known both nationally and internationally as a result of his relentless advocacy of the role of community colleges in solving today's most challenging social issues.
As a community leader and educator, May strongly believes in achieving academic excellence and has worked closely with public school districts, sponsored charter schools, career academies, and early college programs. May was instrumental in expanding Early College High Schools in North Texas and in bringing Pathways to Technology (P-Tech) high schools to Texas.
May previously served as president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System; president for the Colorado Community College System and president of Pueblo Community College before he accepted the system's CEO position. Respected throughout the world, May has provided consulting services to new community college initiatives in Japan, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. 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.