Appalachian State University Blog

Dr. Christina May, PhD, MPA, MDiv, came to Appalachian State University as an adjunct professor in 2015, but her connection to the Boone, North Carolina, area began much earlier.

“When I was 16, I attended a life-changing youth conference on App State’s campus. It was my first time in the mountains, and I fell very much in love with the area,” she recalls. “Riding back to my home state of Indiana after the conference, I had a deep knowing that I’d someday return to the High Country.”

Between her first trip to App State and her eventual return, Dr. May embarked on a wide-ranging journey of service, education and leadership. Today, she draws on that experience to support and empower App State Online’s Criminal Justice students.

In the Navy

Before making her way back to Boone, Dr. May set out to see the world. In 1981, she joined the U.S. Navy.

“I joined the Navy because I saw the opportunities the military could provide with regard to advanced education, travel and upward professional mobility for women,” she says. “I had always been adventurous, and the Navy’s slogan back then was, ‘It’s not just a job… It’s an adventure!’”

Dr. May took that message to heart. Early in her career, she served as a cryptologic technician and analyst in Indianapolis, Italy and Japan, while also using her benefits to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Mastering Management and Administration

From there, Dr. May discovered a knack for administration and management and put it to work. Over the course of her Navy career, she oversaw projects spanning human resources, base closures and the development of classified chemical weapon defense systems. She also earned a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Science in Management.

“I hoped to teach at the college level once I retired from the Navy,” she says of her motivation to continue her education. “Living on military bases emphasized to me the importance and benefits of strong community and camaraderie. Thus, I wanted to help young people learn about building strong social infrastructure and being of service.”

After 24 years of service, Dr. May retired from the Navy in 2006. She moved from Washington, DC, to Boone to be closer to her parents. Her plan to get into the classroom was well underway, though she had other goals to accomplish first.

Gastronomy and Generosity

In addition to her love for adventure, Dr. May developed a passion for gastronomy, a field focused on creating culinary experiences informed by the science, culture and history of food. After retiring from the Navy, she combined this interest with her managerial expertise to run a personal chef business.

In 2009, Dr. May took that passion to the next level. That year, she and fellow members of the High Country United Church of Christ began laying the groundwork for Feed All Regardless of Means (FARM) Cafe, a nonprofit pay-what-you-can restaurant on King Street in Boone. It officially opened three years later.

“That was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It fed my passion for project management and strategic planning, as well as my love for all things restaurants and gastronomy,” she says. “It is extremely rewarding to see FARM Cafe still operating after all these years.”

Self-Improvement and Community Empowerment

FARM Cafe wasn’t the only focus for Dr. May during this time. From 2011 to 2014, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.

Around the same time, she joined the boards of directors of both Hospitality House, a Boone-based nonprofit, and One World Everybody Eats, a James Beard Award-winning organization that operates community cafes across the country.

“It was awesome to see this nonprofit actually using best practices put forth by nonprofit management scholars, which, of course, leads to greater success than nonprofits that just wing it,” she says of her time with Hospitality House.

From Community Work to the Classroom

By 2015, Dr. May had set the stage for the next act in her life. Equipped with a PhD and years of experience, she was ready to join the faculty at Appalachian State University, where she was welcomed with open arms.

Since arriving at App State, Dr. May has taught a wide range of courses, including Intro to Nonprofits, Principles of Fundraising, and multiple classes in the Master of Public Administration program.

Today, she extends her expertise beyond the classroom as the Internship Coordinator for the Department of Government and Justice Studies.

“In that capacity, I supervise the internship courses for criminal justice, political science and public administration majors, as well as graduate political science students,” she says. “Students tell me the best thing they did at App State is the internship. I’m delighted to assist them through this very important step toward their first job in criminal justice.”

Her approach to teaching reflects both her academic background and her time in the military.

“My strengths are big-picture planning and organization. I try to help students articulate and frame their goals and then develop tactics to achieve them,” she says. “Coming from the military, I also value discipline and attention to detail. So, I expect students to demonstrate or improve these attributes in coursework. We hold students to a high standard and help them develop a work ethic that will serve them well over their careers.”

Bringing Opportunities to App State Online Students

Recently, Dr. May has taken on another role at App State: internship director for students in App State Online’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Flight Path program. She has also helped develop several of the program’s online courses.

“It has been interesting to participate in developing Flight Path courses. The Project Kitty Hawk professionals (who are leading the course design) have been wonderful to work with. I have taken online courses, so I appreciate the benefits and flexibility of such degree offerings.”

These programs feature high quality courses that prepare students with applicable learning that can lead to success in the field.

“Our criminal justice degree program is one of the most respected in the state of North Carolina,” Dr. May says. “Agencies are eager to hire our graduates because they know our students have a solid, real-world introduction to the field and have reflected on whether they have the heart for service required of professionals in the public sector.”

Serve Your Community With a Criminal Justice Degree

With courses covering courts, law enforcement, corrections and more, the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Flight Path program at App State Online is designed to prepare students to become leaders across the justice system. And with faculty and staff such as Dr. Christina May guiding the experience, students’ goals remain front and center.

“I will be strengthening my relationships with Flight Path administrators and students, so that we can prepare our majors to find their first choice of job after graduation,” Dr. May says. “Or, in the case of students already working in criminal justice, move up the ladder to reach their full potential.”

To find out more about the curriculum, transfer credit policies and additional program details, request information from App State Online today.

Recommended Readings

Basics of Criminal Justice Policy

Careers With a Criminal Justice Degree: Paths for Graduates

Why Study Criminal Justice: Insights From Dr. Elicka Sparks

Sources:

FARM Cafe, “We Are FARM Cafe”