Gary S. May became the seventh chancellor of the University of California, Davis on August 1, 2017. He served as the dean of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering from July 2011-June 2017 and as the Steve W. Chaddick School Chair of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering from May 2005-June 2011. Previous to that, he was the executive assistant to Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough from 2002-2005.
Dr. May joined the ECE faculty in 1991 as a member of the School's microelectronics group. His research is in the field of computer-aided manufacturing of integrated circuits. He was a National Science Foundation "National Young Investigator" (1993-98) and was Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing (1997-2001). He has authored over 200 articles and technical presentations in the area of IC computer-aided manufacturing. In 2001, he was named Motorola Foundation Professor, and was appointed associate chair for Faculty Development.
Dr. May founded Georgia Tech's Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Science (SURE) program, a summer research program designed to attract talented minority students into graduate school. He also founded and led the Facilitating Academic Careers in Engineering and Science program (FACES), a program designed to encourage minority engagement in engineering and science careers. Dr. May was a National Science Foundation and an AT&T Bell Laboratories graduate fellow, and worked as a member of the technical staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. He is a member of the National Advisory Board of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).
Dr. May is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He received the B.E.E. degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1985 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1987 and 1991, respectively.
- Ph.D., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1991
- M.S., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1987
- B.E.E., Electrical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1985
His research focuses on semiconductor materials and devices, particularly wide‑bandgap semiconductors and their integration in advanced electronic and optoelectronic systems. His work spans characterization, modeling, and performance optimization.
Professor May's research focuses on the physics, characterization, and modeling of semiconductor materials and devices, with particular attention to wide-bandgap semiconductors and their integration into advanced electronic and optoelectronic systems. His work encompasses fundamental investigations into material properties, device behavior, and performance optimization, contributing to the advancement of technologies in power electronics and high-frequency communication components. Graduate and undergraduate students actively participate in his research projects.
- Father of the Year, given by the Father's Day Council of Atlanta and the American Diabetes Association (2011)
- Outstanding Alumni Award in Electrical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley (2010)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2008)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science Mentor Award (2006)
- NSBE Golden Torch Award: Janice A. Lumpkin Educator of the Year (2006)
- IEEE Fellow (2005)
- Motorola Foundation Professorship (2001-2005)
- ASEE Minorities in Engineering Award (2004)
- Georgia Tech Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award (2004)
- Who's Who among African Americans (2004)
- Wickenden Award for Outstanding Paper, Journal of Engineering Education (2003)
- Giant of Science Award from Quality Education for Minorities Network (2002)
- Who's Who in Engineering Education (2002)
- Selected by the National Academy of Engineering to Participate in Frontiers of Engineering Conference as one of "the nation's top 100 engineers between the ages of 30-45" (2000)
- Outstanding Paper Award, IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing (1998, 2000)
- Georgia Tech Outstanding Service Award (1999)
- National Science Foundation National Young Investigator (1993-98)
- Outstanding Young Alumnus, Georgia Institute of Technology (1993)
- Kristel Leung et al., “ERCP and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis…,” Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, 2025.
- Gary S. May, Intel Diversity Scholars Program, 2024.
- Nasruddin Sabrie et al., “Impact of Time of Day on Procedural Outcomes…,” Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2024.
- Scott Schoeman et al., “Outpatient Flexible Endoscopic Diverticulotomy…,” Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2022.
- Sreejith K. Rajan et al., “Electrical and Performance Benefits of Advanced Monolithic Cooling…,” 2021.