Rose Cole Mays is a professor emeritus at the Indiana University School of Nursing at IU Indianapolis From 1973 until her recent retirement, she specialized in teaching pediatric nursing. Dr. Mays served as the school’s community and international affairs associate dean for eight years. Mays implemented a research and community service program focused on health promotion and disease prevention for vulnerable adolescents. A lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association, a member of the IU Foundation Presidents Circle, the Laurel Pin Society, and the 1820 Society, along with other notable IU philanthropic memberships, Mays is also a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Links Incorporated of Indianapolis, IN.
Joining the IU Black Philanthropy Circle as a founding member alongside her mother, Kristin Mays-Corbitt, is an alumna of the Indiana University Bloomington campus’ Hudson and Holland Scholars Program. For her, the Mays’ familial legacy of philanthropy is a fundamental part of how she understands giving back. Mays-Corbitt, president and chief executive officer of Mays Chemical Company, Inc., has also recently made history as the first woman to chair the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. A two-time IU Kelley School of Business graduate, earning both a bachelor’s degree in business management and an MBA, May-Corbitt, is an active life member of the IU Alumni Association and has served on several other philanthropic leadership boards, including the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Indiana University School of Business Dean Council, and currently serves on the NBA All-Star 2024 Board of Directors.
The Mayses have endowed countless other diversity-promoting awards. In honor of Bill Mays's mother, they created the Joy J. Mays Endowment Scholarship within IU's School of Education. (Like her husband Theodore, Joy Mays was also a professional educator.)
As a nod to Rose Mays's extensive career, they also endowed the Rose M. Mays Excellence in Teaching Diversity Fund at the IU School of Nursing at IU Indianapolis “Giving back is a big part of our philosophy in terms of making sure that others have the same opportunities—or even better opportunities—than we had,” she says.
Visit alumni spotlights and learn more about the legacy of the Mays Family.