Jeff May became only the second athletics director in the history of Lander University on July 1, 1997. May succeeded Finis Horne, who served as Lander's athletics director from 1971-97.
May, who played basketball for Lander from 1969-73 and earned a bachelor's degree, served 12 years as Lander's Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the Lander Foundation. From 1981-86 May served as Lander Dean of Students. In 2003 he received the NACDA Division II Athletic Director of the Year award for the Southeast Region.
One of four Lander men's basketball players to have his jersey retired, May is the only player in NAIA District 6 history to be named all-league four years. He was also named honorable mention NAIA All-American three times and still holds several school records, including most points in a single game (49) and points in a career (1,987). May was inducted into Lander's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.
A native of Blue Creek, Ohio, May earned his master's degree in education from Clemson University. Following graduate school he served as principal and teacher at Lowndesville (S.C.) Elementary School (1973-74) and later as assistant principal at McCormick (S.C.) High School (1974-76).
Following his playing days, May served as the Lander assistant men's basketball coach (1974-81) under Finis Horne. During that eight-year period, the then-Senators posted an overall 179-75 record, averaging 22 wins per year.
In addition to his service to Lander, May is very active in the Greenwood community.
He has been a board member of the Piedmont Multi-County Board for Disabilities and Special Needs since 1980 and served as its chair from 1984-86, 1988-89, 1994-95, and 2003, and was its vice chair for two terms. He has served on the board of directors for the Greenwood YMCA, Greenwood Country Club, and is a past president of the Greenwood Kiwanis Club. He has also served on the Monsanto Company Advisory Board, the County Bank Advisory Board and the board of directors for the Bowers-Rodgers Home for Abused Children, Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, United Way and March of Dimes.
May was named the South Carolina Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year in 1983 and was one of three Special Olympics volunteers cited in the United States that same year. He also earned the Greenwood Civitan Outstanding Service Award and the prestigious Lander Distinguished Alumni Award.
May has one daughter, Cristin.
