The White House announced this week that College of Engineering Dean, Gary S. May, has been chosen to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).
A 1985 graduate of Georgia Tech, May is one of just 14 individuals, nationally, to receive the award, which recognizes outstanding science, mathematics, and engineering mentors.
“These educators are helping to cultivate America’s future scientists, engineers and mathematicians,” President Obama said.
“They open new worlds to their students, and give them the encouragement they need to learn, discover and innovate. That’s transforming those students’ futures, and our nation’s future, too.”
May and his fellow honorees will receive the award at a White House ceremony later this year.
"I could not be more honored to receive this recognition from President Obama,” said May.
“Mentoring engineering students and broadening participation among underrepresented groups has been a pillar of my career, and it is truly gratifying for my contributions to be acknowledged. I want to thank the White House and all of the students who have enriched my life in so many ways."
Among his many accomplishments, May created the Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Science (SURE) program, a National Science Foundation-funded program in which he annually hosted minority undergraduate students to do research at Georgia Tech.
More than 73 percent of SURE participants enrolled in graduate school.
May was also the creator and director of the Facilitating Academic Careers in Engineering and Science (FACES) program, for which he was granted over $10 million from NSF to increase the number of African-American Ph.D. recipients produced by Georgia Tech. Over the duration of FACES, more than 430 minority students received Ph.D. degrees in science or engineering at Georgia Tech – the most in such fields in the nation. Recently, May worked with the Sloan Foundation and colleagues to create a University Center of Exemplary Mentoring at Tech. The program provides stipend support to minority Ph.D. students in an effort to increase underrepresented minority participation for advanced engineering degrees.
Candidates for the award are nominated by colleagues, administrators, and students in their home institutions or through professional affiliations. Their mentoring can involve students at any grade level from elementary through graduate school and professional development mentoring of early career scientists. In addition to being honored at the White House, recipients receive awards of $10,000 from the National Science Foundation.