COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) announced Friday that Harold May of Mansfield Correctional Institution (MANCI) was chosen the 2025 Warden of the Year.
May began his career with DRC in 1999, taking on the role of correction officer at North Central Correctional Institution.
Over the years, he held leadership roles, including a major at North Central Correctional Institution and a deputy warden at MANCI. He took on warden roles at Richland Correctional Institution and Toledo Correctional Institution before becoming warden at MANCI in 2024.
“Warden May exemplifies his leadership style by being actively present in the facility, often seen on the yard or near the dining hall, and asking staff, ‘Can I get you anything?’ ” the DRC stated in a press release.
MANCI, a Level 3 facility, offers a variety of valuable programs and activities to help the incarcerated population successfully re-enter society, including vocational opportunities and intramural sports against outside competitors, as well as opportunities to participate in motivational talks, reentry fairs, and peer support activities the DRC stated.
“Being selected as Warden of the Year out of all of the great leaders we have at DRC means a lot,” May said. “None of this could be possible without the hardworking staff at MANCI, who are the driving force behind our successes.”
May is a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he honed his leadership abilities through various training opportunities. He is a graduate of Marion Technical College and a devoted father, husband and grandfather.
“Warden May is a well-respected leader who embodies the core values of our agency,” said ODRC Director Annette Chambers-Smith. “He is the type of warden who is always out and about, keeping a finger on the pulse of the facility.
“He empowers his staff and encourages opportunities for positive change every day.”