Golden State Today

From the earliest moments of his childhood, Gary May was building. He recalls spending countless hours assembling structures with Lego bricks and Erector sets and creating imaginary worlds and characters inspired by the comic books he loved reading and collecting.

May credits his parents for nurturing his creativity and encouraging self-confidence. They dedicated time for homework every school night and often gave him $1 — “enough for six comic books back then” — for every “A” he received in class. All the while, his parents instilled their firm belief in the transformative power of education. As May said, his parents “always wanted the best for me in life and knew that an education would help me reach whatever goals I set.”

UC Davis has more than 50 faculty members who belong to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in research. The academies are among the most prestigious membership organizations in the world.

Each month, Dateline UC Davis will profile one of these faculty members in honor of their contributions to scientific research and knowledge.

Those twin commitments — to education and building a better world — have characterized May’s career, from high school through his work as an electrical engineer and college dean to his role as chancellor of UC Davis.

As he marks seven years in that role this month, May notes he took the position of chancellor after 26 years at Georgia Tech because he wanted to “come to a high-quality institution on the rise, one where I could move the needle, advancing the university forward.”

As May sees Aggie Square rising over the Sacramento skyline, outside research funding for the university crossing the $1 billion threshold in both 2021-22 and 2022-23, and the university climbing to No. 6 among public universities in US News & World Report rankings, he remains optimistic about UC Davis’ future. Whether it’s enhancing global food security, protecting the environment or advancing animal and human health, he says the university “has so much potential in areas that will be important to not just California and the nation but the world.”

Chancellor Gary S. May met with students at Afrikan American Town Hall in April (Courtesy Ahmed Eltayeb).

He’s earned many accolades along the way, including recognition from prestigious organizations. May was named to National Academy of Engineering in 2018 for contributions to semiconductor manufacturing research innovations educational programs underrepresented groups engineering. In 2020 elected American Academy Arts Sciences educational academic leadership.

As a student electrical engineer researched semiconductors power almost every modern electronic device phones cars focused determining ways model control make more efficient processes go into manufacturing integrated circuits major manufacturers like Texas Instruments Intel Samsung.

The draw challenge work powered semiconductors fabrication plants said you can’t make mistakes inefficiencies.

May was also an early pioneer artificial intelligence improve semiconductor manufacturing process early 1990s team Georgia Tech first use neural networks now called deep learning models model manufacturing processes more efficiently statistical models time.

May notes work increased efficiency semiconductor manufacturing computers time weren’t up task demanding calculations necessary model manufacturing process.

May remains optimistic future artificial intelligence believes must intentional making sure there’s level equity how AI models developed moving forward.

A critical turning point journey electrical engineering came high school student invited Develop Engineering Students program St Louis hometown program connected local business industry leaders minority students high potential teaching them work engineers job sites classrooms.

For three summers built academic skills like math practical skills like soldering need engineer credits program preparing rigor engineering program Georgia Tech.

May never forgot importance mentoring something became throughline career

Inspired mentors like Professor Augustine O Esogbue encouraged engineering student Georgia Tech President Wayne Clough encouraged become education leader knew obligation pay support forward

Because guidance experience just handful people color pursuing advanced degree committed himself mentoring building programs other students color feel welcome encouraged path

At Georgia Tech started Summer Undergraduate Research Engineering Science SURE program designed attract qualified underrepresented minority women students graduate school engineering science

Proudest founding Facilitating Academic Careers Engineering Science program encourages minority engagement careers academia During involvement program 430 students color more anywhere else country received doctoral degrees science technology engineering math fields

SURE program still operating today

Recent event St Louis honoring high school winners National Society Black Engineers scholarships thanked introduced Saint Louis University School Science Engineering Dean Gregory Triplett whom mentored doctoral student

Considers mentoring most important roles still gets big charge seeing somebody mentored success cites term origin explain belief mentoring must mean more occasional meetings lunch When Odysseus left home left son care Mentor safekeeping said If mentor deeply engaged mentee common ground try build ongoing relationships

Looking ahead wants continue spread word how UC Davis building better world both innovations dozens strawberry varieties produced Strawberry Breeding Program decades work Immigration Law Clinic represents detained immigrants before immigration court first kind nation constantly surprised exceptional discoveries doing amazing things optimistic so much good come place Follow Dateline UC Davis X formerly Twitter.