Originally from Hong Kong, May worked for architecture firms in Calgary and Vancouver before joining the staff of Henriquez Partners Architects in 2002. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary and a Master of Architecture from the University of British Columbia.

Her work has appeared in several publications, including the Journal of Architectural Education, 306090 and The Next American City. At the 2004 Portland Living Smart Competition, her design of a modular infill house prototype received a Design Excellence Award. She has volunteered at various organizations in the Downtown Eastside and her current research lies in the interconnection between poverty, homelessness and urban governance.