Moravian Promotes Rebecca M. May to Director of Athletics
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian University has promoted Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator Rebecca M. May to the position of Director of Athletics effective May 4. May succeeds Mary Beth Spirk, who is retiring after a historic 45-year career at Moravian, the last decade as the Athletic Director.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian University has promoted Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator Rebecca M. May to the position of Director of Athletics effective May 4. May succeeds Mary Beth Spirk, who is retiring after a historic 45-year career at Moravian, the last decade as the Athletic Director.
"We are fortunate to have a leader of Rebecca May's caliber ready to step into this role" stated Moravian University President Dr. Bryon L. Grigsby '90. "Rebecca has built a long and distinguished career in collegiate athletics, and she understands Moravian and our student–athletes at a deep level. I am confident she will honor the legacy of Mary Beth Spirk while leading Greyhound athletics into an exciting new chapter."
May has served as an athletic administrator for more than two decades with experience at NCAA and NJCAA institutions. She joined the Moravian staff as Assistant Director of Athletics and the Fitness Center Director in September 2018, and May took over the role as Senior Woman Administrator in addition to being promoted to Associate Athletic Director in March 2021 and was promoted to Senior Associate Director of Athletics in July 2024. May returned to Moravian after spending the seven years at Union County College in New Jersey as the Assistant Dean of College Life.
"Following the legendary tenure of Mary Beth Spirk as Athletic Director is no small task, but Rebecca May is uniquely prepared for this moment. She deeply understands the values and traditions that make this department special, and as Senior Associate AD, she has proven herself to be a leader of immense integrity and capability. Rebecca has been instrumental in our recent successes, and I have full confidence that she will protect the storied legacy of this department while driving the innovation our student-athletes deserve," commented Dr. Nicole L. Loyd, Moravian University Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer and Dean of Students as well as May's direct supervisor.
"I am very happy to hand over the reins of our athletic department to Rebecca May," Spirk said. "She certainly has earned the athletic director position. The entire athletic community from our staff, our coaches, our administration, but most of all our student-athletes are in Rebecca's capable hands. Over the past almost 15 years, I have witnessed Rebecca grow into an exceptional leader who cares deeply for the future of Moravian Athletics."
At Moravian, May has led numerous initiatives that have transformed the athletic department. She has managed the operating budget, oversees compliance for nearly 600 student-athletes, and directed capital projects ranging from locker room complexes to a donor-funded indoor golf center. She has supervised football men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, field hockey, along with strength and conditioning. Under her leadership, community service hours, academic success rates, and alumni engagement have reached all-time highs. May also co-led the development of a department strategic plan and managed high-impact partnerships, including a sports medicine contract with St. Luke's Health Network and Moravian University's segment of the Landmark Conference multimedia deal with FloSports.
"I am honored to be named Director of Athletics at Moravian University and grateful for the opportunity to lead this outstanding department," stated May. "Having served in key leadership roles within the department, I look forward to building upon that strong foundation that Mary Beth has provided in advancing Moravian Athletics. She has provided exceptional leadership for the department, and her impact on Moravian Athletics and the broader University community is profound and enduring."
May has served the broader athletics community through leadership with the NCAA Division III Nominating Committee (Chair, 2026–2028), the Northampton Community College Sport Management Advisory Board, and as a past Executive Board member of the Garden State Athletic Conference and NJCAA Region XIX. She is a graduate of the NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, NCAA Division III Institute for Administrative Advancement, and NACDA Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute.
She maintains memberships in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Women Leaders in College Sports and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association.
Prior to her time at Union, May previously worked at Moravian from 2005 through 2010 in several roles including Assistant Field Hockey Coach, and Assistant Director of the Moravian Fund for Athletics.
A 2005 graduate of East Stroudsburg University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Movement Sport and Exercise Science with a concentration in Health and Nutrition as well as a degree in Elementary Education. She completed her Master's of Science degree in Sport Management, Intercollegiate Athletic Administration in August 2014 from California University of Pennsylvania.
