John F. May

John F. May is a Research Professor at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government, specializing in demographic analysis and population policies with decades of international field experience across UN agencies, the World Bank, and global health organizations.

Education:

• BA in Modern History (1973), Catholic University of Louvain
• MA in Demography (1985), Catholic University of Louvain
• PhD summa cum laude (1996), University of Paris-V (Sorbonne)

His research focuses on population dynamics and policy implementation across critical domains including family planning, reproductive health, demographic dividend mechanisms, fertility transitions, and Sub-Saharan Africa's demographic trajectory. Methodologically grounded in quantitative demographic modeling, his work bridges academic research with operational program design for international development agencies.

Publication trends (2012-2022) reveal sustained scholarly leadership in global population policy analysis, with increasing emphasis on Africa's demographic-economic nexus and evidence-based policy frameworks. His book series establishes critical connections between demographic transitions and sustainable development outcomes.

Scientific recognition:

• Population Institute 2012 Global Media Award for best book in population

Professional engagements include 15 years as lead demographer at the World Bank, UN field assignments in Haiti and New Caledonia, and collaborations with UNFPA, UNICEF, and USAID on reproductive health program evaluation. His consultancy background with Futures Group International demonstrates applied expertise in demographic modeling for policy design.