Executive Team
Peter F. May
Vice President, Administration and Legal Affairs
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Peter May serves as vice president of administration and legal affairs at World Learning, with responsibility for delivering legal services to all units in more than 50 countries. In addition to acting as chief legal officer, May oversees the global human resources, risk management, and compliance areas and supports the World Learning Board of Trustees as corporate secretary.
Since joining World Learning in 1996 as the organization’s first general counsel, May has worked actively to develop and strengthen World Learning’s global operations platform, ensuring compliance with local laws and supporting World Learning’s commitment to good corporate citizenship. He is a sought after speaker on topics involving the legal aspects of international education and nongovernmental organization management, including operating in multiple jurisdictions and liability issues in overseas educational programs. An article he authored for the Journal of College and University Law in May 2010, "Common Legal Issues When Employing Staff in Support of Overseas Academic Programs," serves as a comprehensive reference for counsel and academic administrators working internationally.
Prior to joining World Learning, May was an associate with the law firm of Ropes & Gray in Boston, where his practice focused on general corporate matters, including venture capital financing, joint ventures and partnerships, intellectual property, and nonprofit organizations. He has also served as the chair of the Putney Town School Board and was elected in 2009 as Putney town moderator.
May graduated with a bachelor's degree from Yale University, cum laude, and holds a juris doctorate, magna cum laude, from Boston University. He resides in Putney, Vermont, with his partner and three children.