Skip to Content
My MSU
Morgan State University
Sign Up

Join Us for an Inspiring Talk by Dr. Willie E. May

"An Improbable Journey: From the Projects in Birmingham, Alabama, to Leading the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology and Beyond"

We invite you to hear the remarkable journey of Dr. Willie E. May, Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Morgan State University. Dr. May will share his insights on achieving success despite adversity.

Even the most challenging circumstances can lay the foundation for extraordinary accomplishments. Dr. May grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, during the late 1950s and early 1960s, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. At the time, he never imagined he would become an internationally renowned scientist, hold Presidential appointments as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), or serve on the National Science Board of the National Science Foundation.

In this talk, Dr. May will reflect on the hidden advantages that shaped his career, often embedded within the more visible obstacles. He will discuss:

  • His early life and education, from childhood through his academic training.
  • His professional journey, beginning as a bench chemist at the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant and spanning a 45+ year career at NIST, where he held key leadership roles, including:
    • Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of NIST.
    • Vice President of the International Committee on Weights and Measures (CIPM) and President of the CIPM’s Consultative Committee on Metrology in Chemistry and Biology.
    • Member of the National Science Board.

Dr. May will conclude with reflections on "flunking retirement" and his decision to dedicate the final chapter of his career to advancing the education of young African Americans at Morgan State University. He will also discuss the critical need to include the “Missing Millions” in the STEM enterprise to ensure the United States remains globally competitive.

Dr. May earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Knoxville College (1968) and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Maryland (1977).

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear an extraordinary story of perseverance, leadership, and impact!

Event Details

See Who Is Interested

  • Hakeem Tijani

1 person is interested in this event

User Activity

No recent activity

Morgan State University Powered by the Localist Community Event Platform © All rights reserved