Morgan State University Appoints Former NIST Director Willie E. May, Ph.D. As Vice President for Research and Economic Development

Morgan State University President David Wilson has announced the appointment of Willie E. May, Ph.D., as the University’s new vice president for Research and Economic Development. Dr. May comes to Morgan from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he was director of major research and training initiatives for the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. Before that, he served for three years as U.S. undersecretary of commerce for standards and technology and director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as an appointee of former President Barack Obama. Dr. May will be the second vice president of Morgan’s Division of Research and Economic
Development replacing the former vice president Victor McCrary, Ph.D., who was appointed by President Wilson when D-RED was established, in 2012.

“Dr. May is a welcomed addition to Morgan’s staff. With the establishment
of a dedicated division for University research and the State’s designation
of Morgan as its Preeminent Public Urban Research University, it was
imperative that we tap one of the top scientific minds available to continue
our momentum and lead us in the future,” said President Wilson. “He will play a huge role in our success in meeting the goals we have set for Morgan’s research and economic development work.”

D-RED has overseen more than $154 million in awarded contracts and grants since its founding six years ago and guided Morgan to the execution of its first-ever technology transfer licensing contract this year. Dr. May’s plans as D-RED vice president include, among others, encouraging collaborative research across the schools, colleges and institutes of the University; advocating for faculty in research; promoting Morgan to corporations, foundations and government agencies as a source of return on research investments; facilitating increased international research opportunities for faculty and students; and enlisting his broad network to assist Morgan in enhancing its programs and its status as Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University.

Dr. May’s appointment is effective May 9.