Rev. Dr. Anderson is currently working on his second and third book while also working on beginning his own radio program on Voice America 7th Wave
Although he still teaches Sign Language related courses at Prince George's Community College as of June 2011 he ended his full time job as a High School Teacher in Maryland and a professor at Bowie State University.
In addition to teaching American Sign Language, he is also a DC metro area interpreter, Certified Holistic Life Coach, Reiki Shinpiden (Master) Practitioner and teacher, mentor, Sigung (Chinese term for teacher) martial arts instructor, and author of a text book "Visual Music: Interpreting music in American Sign Language" which is available for order now. To order from publisher
Ray has always been an active and visually creative individual. His love of drawing and painting began while in elementary school. The artistic passion led to him attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, once he graduated high school, where he received an Associates degree in Visual Arts, advertising design and Graphic Illustration. While developing his visual arts passion, he also worked diligently on his passion for the martial arts. After seeing Bruce Lee in "Return of the Dragon" and "Game of Death" he was inspired and determined to learn. This was further emblazoned into his mind when he began watching the TV series "Kung Fu" starring David Carradine. The philosophical lessons taught through the show appealed to Ray in a way he was not able to fully understand until many years later. 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. In addition to Kung Fu, Ray has studied Ninjutsu and Aikido.
Ray began teaching martial arts to friends and other neighborhood kids while he was in high school and it was this love for teaching that inspired him to become a teacher of art in the Public Schools. To accomplish this, he attended Carlow College, where he obtained his Bachelors degree in Art Education K-12. It was also while attending Carlow College that he began to pursue yet another of his long held passions, studying American Sign Language. He is quite thankful to have had the privilege of learning from several highly skilled and qualified hearing and deaf teachers over the years.
It was due to the encouragement of his first ASL teacher, Karen McGann, that Ray founded the performance company S.T.A.R.S. 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 Associates degree 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. During his time as a graduate student at VCU, Ray was bitten by the acting bug! While he had performed with S.T.A.R.S. before large audiences, this was a different level and type of performing that inspired him in a new and exciting way. Ray is eternally grateful to Noreen Barnes McLain for casting him a role in "Night Sky" and to Gary Hopper for casting him in a major role in "The Day The Bronx Died." 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 2003 departure and continued for a few years but it also 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 The American Institute of Holistic Theology (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 AIHT American Institute of Holistic Theology where he began working on his Ph.D. in Metaphysics. He also, enrolled in an additional doctoral degree 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 and in October 2011 as an Interfaith Minister with The American Interfaith of Holistic Temple. He intends to further serve the community as a Certified Holistic Life Coach, ordained Minister, Reiki master practitioner and teacher, motivational speaker, presenter, workshop facilitator, author, performer, actor, radio host , TV host, and more! MUCH MORE! (smile)
Ray is also still contemplating where to settle down and build his dream home as well as 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 display and sell his art work, publish several books (the second due out early 2012 followed by the third later in the year), 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 Oct 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 his mother(Lois Anderson), his sons (Kenny, Cody and James), proud and to obtain not only fame and fortune so they 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)
