ANGELA CELESTE MAY, '90
Harmony is important to Dr. Angela Celeste May. In fact, her world revolves around it. Whether she's singing for an audience or using her psychology experience to work with people of diverse backgrounds, it is her goal to bring people together.
May earned her bachelor's in voice performance and psychology from Marygrove College in 1990. In 1994 she received her master's in clinical and humanistic psychology from The Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, and her doctorate in philosophy from the institute in 1997.
She combines her passion for music and psychology into a multi-faceted career. She is president and co-founder of A. M. May & Associates, working as a clinical and organizational psychologist with subspecialties in forensic psychology and neuropsychology. She is also a voice instructor at Marygrove College for the Institute of Music and Dance.
Her professional accomplishments are many. While working at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice as a forensic psychologist, May provided evaluations and recommendations to judges, attorneys and probation officers, and ran a domestic violence group for offenders. As an adjunct professor at the University of Phoenix, she taught organizational behavior and management, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Although May was not a member of the Michigan Psychological Association, she was asked to serve as a diversity delegate on its board in 2000. In 2003 she was appointed chair of the diversity task force. Throughout graduate school to the present, she has mentored students in the Detroit-Metro Chapter of Black Psychologists. From 1999 to early 2004 she served as president, combining some of the organization's celebrations with events on Marygrove's campus.
Stage presence, warmth and the ability to think on her feet have put her in high demand as a presenter at conferences. Presentations include the Michigan Psychological Association, Michigan Youth Workers Association and the University of Michigan. She also has made numerous guest appearances on television and radio.
"She is a superb role model and a sunny, articulate mentor to our students and alumni," says colleague Karen K. Tracy.
May volunteers her time and resources to coordinate educational events for Marygrove students. She originated the annual Kwanzaa and Juneteenth celebrations to assist in bringing cultural awareness to students.
Generously sharing her talent, May and her family have volunteered their time to perform at Marygrove Christmas parties and Women's History Month programs. She also performed as a soloist at the Marygrove student comedy night celebration.
"Dr. May is a very talented vocalist and musician. She performs with polish, beauty and integrity," says colleague Lisa Jones-Brown.
According to May, the legacy of her family is one of helping others. Her maternal grandmother, Willie May Walton, mentored young people, and her paternal great-uncle, Copeland DeLoach, helped pioneer the union movement in Detroit. And they passed that commitment on to her.
"I absolutely do not believe in limitations. With God first there is no 'can't', and age truly is just a number!" she says. "I am always working toward the next goal, because I feel that I have much to do before my time is complete on this earth." Harmony is important to Dr. Angela Celeste May. In fact, her world revolves around it. Whether she's singing for an audience or using her psychology experience to work with people of diverse backgrounds, it is her goal to bring people together.