A surprising name has surfaced as a candidate for Dallas mayor: philanthropic powerhouse Lynn McBee.

An educator and longtime civic leader, McBee filed paperwork on December 7. The mayoral election will take place on May 4, 2019.

In a release, McBee says that she'll use the knowledge she's gained from her decades of volunteering in Dallas.

"As a CEO of an education organization and with more than 25 years as a servant leader in Dallas, I've gained the perspective and experience to forge the coalitions and partnerships we need to solve our city's greatest challenges," she says.

"As mayor, I'll engage and empower corporate, governmental, civic, philanthropic, and community leaders to work together to address critical issues like improving education and disrupting cycles of poverty," she says. "These are challenges we must overcome to reach our full potential and create a future Dallas primed for growth and opportunity."

McBee is a former biochemist researcher who currently serves as CEO of Young Women's Preparatory Network, a public-private partnership of public schools providing a STEM-based education to girls in underserved communities.

Young Women's Prep boasts a 100 percent college acceptance rate, creating first-generation college graduates and helping break cycles of poverty.

A longtime civic volunteer, Lynn also serves as Chairman of the Board of Dallas' homeless center The Bridge, and she's an officer for the Dallas County Community College District Foundation where she provides critical insight on programs and services and raises funds for financial aid an scholarships that support students and remove barriers of entry to college.

A graduate of Leadership Dallas, Lynn was a 2017 recipient of the Texas Trailblazer Award from The Family Place, and she's been honored as a "Rising Star" by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas.

She's received the Dallas Hero Award from Leadership Dallas, and the Partners for Children Award from Community Partners of Dallas.

She's a favorite here on CultureMap, and was designated a CultureMap "Influential" in 2013, when she revealed that her favorite heroes in real life were teachers and mentors, and that the thing she loves most about Dallas is the city's positive, "can do" attitude.

Business and civic leader John Levy, co-CEO of NCH Corporation, will serve as treasurer for her campaign.

"Lynn has worked tirelessly for our city on big issues like eduction, domestic violence, homelessness, and medical research," Levy says. "She's a smart forward-thinking servant leader and I know that no one will work harder for our great city."

Her campaign has already racked up endorsements from local luminaries such as Lucy Billingsley, CEO Billingsley Co.; Tom Karol, CEO of Cornerstone Automation and former chair of Dallas Housing Authority; and Richard Rogers, former CEO of Mary Kay.