Recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Psychology Award for outstanding contributions to psychology in Michigan, Native Detroiter Dr. Angela Celeste May earned a Bachelors of Music degree as a double-major in psychology and voice performance at Marygrove College, a Master of Arts degree in clinical and humanistic psychology from Center for Humanistic Studies (now the Michigan School for Psychology), and went into private practice in Birmingham, Michigan two weeks after graduating from CHS. Quickly moving on to pursue her doctorate degree, she was among the youngest graduates of the Union Institute when she earned her PhD. in clinical and organizational psychology with sub-specialties in forensic and neuropsychology at age 30.
While still a doctorate student Dr. May began serving on dissertation committees and co-founded, and is President of the counseling and consulting company A.M. May & Associates, Inc. with her sister Michelle May, and co-founded the Metro-Detroit chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists, later becoming the organization’s third President. Her doctorate dissertation research showed the positive impact on a company's bottom-line when the public perceives that company as having a robust diversity policy and practices.
Two years after receiving her Ph.D., and while still running her company Dr. May became a forensic examiner at the Third Circuit Court. She was one of the original 13 psychologists of color chosen from across the country to serve as an American Psychological Association National Diversity Delegate, advocating for the profession in Washington, D.C., and served as the Diversity Chair for the Michigan Psychological Association.
Author of the book, "Freedom: What is the Experience of Living Without Negative, Self-Imposed Limitations?" (which had been her Master’s thesis) the former University of Phoenix Dissertation Chair is currently a psychology professor at Wayne County Community College District, public speaker, consultant, and President of the Michigan Psychological Association Foundation Board.
Throughout her psychology career, the White House, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Circuit Court Judges, National Organizations, Business Leaders, Clinicians, Educators, and others have sought out Dr. May for her expertise, brilliant writing, gifted teaching, and unique ability to understand and clarify behavior.
In addition to psychology Dr. May is also an accomplished professional musician and music educator, recording artist, writer, music and music video producer/director, and band leader who has traveled the world. Founder and President of Celeste Productions, Inc, she has appeared frequently in print, television, and radio, made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2017, and from 2017 to the present has been invited by various producers and directors to appear in movies (“Trista”, “Solomon”, “Youth Against Violence”) as herself, either as a psychologist or vocalist. A former longtime board member and vocal coach for the Detroit Youth Choir, Dr. May received the Distinguished Alumni Award and the A.C.E. Woman of the Year Award from Marygrove College, and was a 2020 “Who’s Who in Black Detroit” honoree.
Dr. May continued her involvement in community service in 2019 when she was invited to join the Michigan Psychological Association Foundation Board (MPAF). There she spearheaded a key shift in the direction of their Dissertation Doctoral Scholarship Grant program and was subsequently appointed Chair of that committee in 2020, then President of the Board in 2021. Dr. May accepted an invitation to join the Drug Free Youth in Detroit Advisory Board and the Michigan Health Council Board of Trustees after stepping down from the MPAF Board, and currently serves both organizations. She continues her involvement with the Metro Detroit Association of Black Psychologists, and is a member of the oldest Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated since 2019.
Dr. Angela Celeste May
Michelle May
Michelle May is a Licensed Professional Counselor, professional musician and coach for creative professionals residing in Detroit, MI, where she was born and raised. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Language Arts (Elementary Education) with a minor in music from Marygrove College (Detroit, MI) and a Master’s in Counseling and Post-Master’s work in Instructional Technology from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI). She has a Certificate in Music Recording Technology from Schoolcraft College.
Michelle has worked in mental health since 1988, beginning with working at Adult Learning Systems, an organization committed to mainstreaming adults with physical challenges and mental illness. Michelle also served on the Board of Adult Learning Systems. In 1996, Michelle and her sister, psychologist Dr. Angela May, co-founded A.M. May & Associates, a counseling and consulting firm in Detroit. Michelle was a counselor in higher education from 1991 to 2021, working at both Wayne State University and Oakland Community College (Oakland County, MI).
Michelle is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development and a past member of the American College Counseling Association, where she served on the Community College Counseling Taskforce. She is a past board member of the Centers of Wellness for Urban Women, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is a past President of the Michigan College Personnel Association, a Division of the American College Personnel Association. She is a past Board member of the Marygrove College Alumni Association, serving as its Vice-President and a past Board member of the Historic Boston-Edison neighborhood association. Michelle is a current Advisory Board member for both the Charles W. Reid Community Help Center and the Black Legacy Advancement Coalition in Detroit, MI. She is a current Board member of The Cranbrook Project in Bloomfield Hills, MI.
Michelle has presented numerous workshops on higher education topics, stress management, time management, diversity, self-esteem, and motivation. At Oakland Community College, she was responsible for developing and presenting workshops related to community health and wellness, including founding and facilitating an on-campus women’s group known as “Celebrating Sisterhood”. Michelle is a passionate advocate of women, Black people and the issue of diversity in the arts and is often called upon to lend her voice to these causes as a blogger, speaker and panelist.
Michelle is a professional violinist and flutist, and is the manager and bandleader of Musique Noire, a women-led strings and percussion ensemble performing world jazz music. She is the Executive Producer of the ensemble’s three CD releases and music films. She has performed with numerous high-profile, Grammy-award winning musicians, such as Samara Joy, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Richard Smallwood, and KEM to name but a few. Michelle has made numerous appearances at festivals and concert halls including the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Orchestra Hall in Detroit, Detroit’s Concert of Colors, the Chicago (IL) String Summit, Arts Beats and Eats (MI), the former Comerica Tastefest (Detroit), Detroit River Days and Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, MI, to name but a few. Michelle is a 2018 Kresge Artist Fellow, a program of Kresge Arts in Detroit, sponsored by the Kresge Foundation. She is a 20-year-plus member of The Recording Academy, which annually produces the GRAMMY Awards. Michelle founded, produces, and directs “Concerts in Boston-Edison” and “Concerts in Indian Village” which has presented house concerts in these historic Detroit neighborhoods since 2011 and 2021 respectively. As a coach and educator for upcoming and professional creatives, she has worked with private clients as well as the Detroit Public Schools, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, Marygrove College, Kresge Arts in Detroit, Chamber Music America and the Sphinx Organization.