Dr. Anderson is currently a High School Teacher in Maryland and a professor at Bowie State University and Prince George's Community College. He is also a DC metro area interpreter, Certified Holistic Life Coach, Reiki Shinpiden (Master) Practitioner, mentor, Sigung (Gung fu master) martial arts instructor, and author of a text book "Visual Music: Interpreting music in American Sign Language" which is available for order now.
Ray has always been an active and visually creative individual. He began drawing and study of the martial arts while in elementary school. The artistic passion led to him attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where he received an AS in Visual Arts, advertising design and Graphic Illustration, while his passion for martial arts eventually led him to becoming a martial arts teacher and on September 24, 2002 a master (Si-gung) through the American Gung- Fu Association.
Ray later decided to take that training and become a teacher of art in the Public Schools. He attended Carlow College, where he obtained his BA in Art Education, and it was while at Carlow that he began studying American Sign Language from, Karen McGann, professor and director of Catholic offices for Deaf persons.
It was due to Karen's encouragement that Ray founded the performance company S.T.A.R.S. (Sticking Together Always Results in Success)
That company was very successful during its time, however once Ray moved to Richmond VA. the company members all went their separate ways.
While working as a Pittsburgh Public school art teacher, Ray attended the Community College of Allegheny County where he obtained an AS in Interpreting under the tutelage of his mentor Brian Cerney. It was also due to his mentor's encouragement that Ray became a certified teacher of ASL through the American Sign Language teacher's Association.
After several years of teaching in the public school system, it was time to grow -and GO- yet again. This next chapter led Ray to relocating to Richmond VA.
While in Richmond, Ray attended Virginia Commonwealth University where he received his MFA in Theater Pedagogy. It was also during his time in Richmond that Ray founded S.T.A.R.S., a second time. This time, the company survived his eventual departure for a few years but came to an end in the Summer of 2008.
Once Ray graduated from VCU, he was offered a job to work for The Wild Zappers (an all Deaf male dance company). Ray took the job as their interpreter and guest performing artist. During that time he traveled, learned, and studied and improved his craft as performer and skills as an interpreter. In 2005, Ray was blessed to be one of a select few of interpreters to attend the Theatre Development Fund - “Interpreting for the Theatre Institute” program at Julliard in New York.
As a result, Ray has taken all that he knows about acting, storytelling, dance, martial arts, performing, motivational speaking, ASL, and life and has created B.E.L.I.E.V.E. and his expectations related to this new company are nothing short of limitless! (Ray's Resume/CV)
Ray recently had a role in Open Circle Theatre's production of EVITA. (Reviews of EVITA)
As a June 2007 graduate of AIHT with his Doctor of Divinity degree, majoring in Christian Theology, Ray decided to once again take on the title of student. He reenrolled with the American Institute of Holistic Theology where he has begun working on his Ph.D. in Metaphysics. He also has begun a second Ph.D. program through
The University of Sedona, He successfully obtained the University of Sedona Doctor of Metaphysical Science (Msc.D.) on January 10, 2011. He also, in 2010, received certification as a Holistic Life Coach through
Spencer Institute. He became an ordained Reverend on February 12, 2007 through the United Christian Fellowship/ on September 29, 2009 through the International Metaphysical Ministry/ on December 19, 2010 with the Many Paths Ministry. He intends to further serve the community as a Certified Holistic Life Coach, ordained Minister, Reiki master practitioner and master teacher, motivational speaker, presenter, workshop facilitator, author, performer, actor, and more. Ray is also still contemplating a move to NYC for a time in the not to distant future to further his career in acting, create several TV shows and films, and continue performing as well as open an art gallery to display and sell his art work, publish several books, travel and lecture and teach, and continue to perform and inspire and empower people to be EXTRA-ordinary, to Excel, and to "Defy gravity!"
Ray's father, Charles H. Anderson transitioned on October 14, 2002 after having lived with the experience of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) and cancer - For the 6 years after his father's transition, Ray diligently and passionately worked to purchase a memorial for his father's previously unmarked grave. As of September 14, 2008 the granite memorial has been placed!
Ray continues to be ever vigilant and hard working to honor his father's memory and to make his mother and his three sons proud and to obtain not only fame and fortune so his mother and sons may have financial security and comfort, but also to utilize his star-power to positively affect, influence and be the change that Gandhi spoke of.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 cor2:9 (NLT)
