Former Staff Member of the Year Begins New Season of Life

After nearly 10 years of service at Cedarville University, Dr. Mindy May, associate vice president of student development and dean of students, has resigned from her positions and will be relocating to Alabama to marry her best friend.

“This departure is an occasion for gratitude for Dr. May’s years of service at Cedarville,” said Jon Wood, vice president for student life and Christian ministries. “Her leaving leaves a hole in the leadership of Cedarville’s student life division.”

In her dual roles at Cedarville, May directed the student development team that focused on student discipleship and joyful community. She joined the university in 2014, and five years later she was voted by the students as the staff member of the year.  

The Staff Member of the Year award is chosen by the student academic advisory board (SAAB) by means of a student-body vote. The criteria for the honor include professional excellence, experience, and servant leadership.

May worked tirelessly to care for the needs of Cedarville’s growing student body. Her greatest passion was leading her team in ways that strengthened student discipleship.

“The highlight of working here has just been the students. It has been really sweet to be a part of the journey of these pivotal college years,” said May shortly after announcing her resignation. “I really tried to focus on the life-on-life discipleship with residence life. As we’ve grown as a university, I’ve tried to assess the needs of the student body, and that really is discipleship.”

May joined the Cedarville student life division after working as a licensed counselor in Fort Worth, Texas, and adjunct teaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dallas Baptist University. While at Cedarville, she completed her doctoral work in psychology from Southwestern Seminary with an emphasis in sexual ethics. May never saw herself leaving the Lone Star State, but a visit to Cedarville in 2014 changed her mind.

In 2014, May was brought on as the director of counseling services in Cedarville’s student life division. Since then, she has served as the director of student development, dean of women, dean of students, and now associate vice president of student development.

"Through a season of growth, she demonstrated missional focus, creativity in preserving the positive aspects of campus culture through changing times, and administrative savvy to lead through increased complexity," added Wood.

May’s heart for students is evident from her efforts to cultivate a culture of discipleship. During her time at Cedarville, May implemented many new initiatives to address the growing needs of students. She desired to see students grow in their relationship with the Lord and walk with biblical integrity.

“I’m walking away with a greater appreciation for the body of Christ and what it means to work together in a structured way,” added May. “I feel like I’m stepping forward into the next part of God’s plan.”

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 5,082 undergraduate, graduate, and dual-enrolled high school students in more than 175 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, high graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and the #4 national ranking by the Wall Street Journal for student engagement. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.