Jennifer May
Assistant City Manager

Contact Information 

Mailing Address:
City of Pearland
3519 Liberty Dr.
Pearland, Texas 77581

Telephone:  281.997.1772
jmay@pearlandtx.gov

Introduction

Jennifer May joined the City of Pearland as Assistant City Manager in March 2026 after nearly 20 years (2006-2025) serving the City of Sugar Land.

Career in Local Government

Jennifer began her full-time career in local government in 2006 at the City of Sugar Land, initially serving as a management assistant. Over her nearly 20-year tenure with Sugar Land, she held a series of progressively responsible positions, including Assistant to the City Manager, Director of Economic Development, Executive Director of Business & Governmental Affairs, Assistant City Manager, and Deputy City Manager. Her leadership focused on championing the City's innovative vision, financial stability, long-term planning, and strategic budgeting. She led special projects, established public/private partnerships, and provided executive oversight for both internal service and public-facing operational departments. Her final executive oversight responsibilities included Public Works, Utilities, the Sugar Land Fire Department, and the Sugar Land Regional Airport.

Key Initiatives and Projects

Throughout her various roles in Sugar Land, Jennifer provided executive leadership for major initiatives such as the City's $350M bond election in November 2024, the implementation of lease and development agreements for the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, and negotiations for the partnership with the Houston Astros to bring Triple-A baseball to the city. She also served as the primary staff liaison during the transformation of the former Central State Farm Prison building into the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land in 2009.

Leadership Philosophy

At her core, Jennifer has a passion for leading and inspiring others to dream big and push the boundaries of what cities can accomplish, ensuring that residents, workers, and businesses can experience a truly meaningful, enjoyable, and life-giving community. This motivation drives her daily work and contributes to her effectiveness as a leader with a proven record of success.

Education and Professional Affiliations

Born in Houston and raised in Brazoria County, Jennifer attended the University of Arkansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration. She later received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas, specializing in urban and city management. Jennifer is a member of the Texas City Management Association (TCMA) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), is an ICMA credentialed manager, and has served as an officer for both TCMA Region 6 and the Urban Management Professionals of Southeast Texas (UMPSET).