May returns to U-M for top fund-raising job

By Elizabeth Conlisk, Media Relations

An opportunity to return to his native Michigan has led Ohio State Vice President for Development Jerry May to accept the top development job at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He begins his job in Michigan on Feb. 1.

May, Ohio State's vice president for development since 1992, had spent 13 years at Michigan before arriving in Columbus to head the Buckeyes' record-breaking "Affirm Thy Friendship" campaign, the most ambitious campaign in the University's history. The "Affirm Thy Friendship" campaign began in 1995 with a goal of $850 million, which was later increased to $1 billion. The final tally on the campaign, which ended in 2000, was $1.23 billion, making Ohio State only one of a handful of public universities to raise $1 billion or more during a single campaign.

Jerry May

"The 10 years I have been at Ohio State have been the most fulfilling years of my life," said May, who also leads the Ohio State University Foundation. "Deborah and I have come to view the people of Ohio State and Columbus as our extended family. In fact, one of the things we have most admired about this community is that so many children of our friends return here to raise their own families. Now, in the same fashion, we leave to rejoin our own nuclear families.

"At the same time, I leave with every confidence that the University is in great hands with a host of committed fund-raising volunteers, an experienced and talented fund-raising staff, an incredibly talented faculty and the outstanding leadership of President Karen Holbrook," May said.

Holbrook said May has built a tremendous fund-raising organization upon which the University has come to depend heavily because of shrinking state government support.

"We are extremely fortunate to have had Jerry's expertise in assembling the kind of professional staff that is required in today's fund-raising environment," she said. "We wish him much success as he returns to Michigan, and we are confident that the staff he has developed will continue the fund-raising tradition of success he established so effectively here."

In addition to his many national professional activities, May has served the Columbus community as a board member of the Bexley Education Foundation and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., May holds a master's degree in student personnel administration from the University of Vermont, a B.A. in English from Hope College in Holland, Mich., and did graduate work in higher education administration at Michigan from 1976-79.

Holbrook said an interim vice president will be named shortly.

University purchases land for research

The Ohio State University Foundation has entered into a contract to purchase a piece of property adjacent to current University land that will allow for strategic expansion of the University's research space in the future. The foundation will spend $16.5 million to purchase the ABB facilities, a 26.4-acre parcel located at 650 Ackerman Road. The property includes eight buildings totaling more than 450,000 square feet of office, lab and storage space.

"This property presented a rare opportunity to add growth to our campus in a very strategic area," said Robert Haverkamp, assistant vice president for business and finance. "The property appears to be in excellent condition, which will result in minimal updates. The ability to add to our research space in a location so close to campus is a key reason for this purchase. Our goal will be to use the space in a way that best meets our needs, consistent with the University's Academic Plan."