Ray Bess is currently a Junior Analyst at KRC Research. Prior to this, they worked as a Curatorial & Audio/Visual Intern at the New Jersey Folk Festival, where they created a podcast exploring Paul Robeson’s experience at Rutgers and their legacy in folk music and civil rights. They also conducted an hour-long interview with Rutgers archivist Erika Gorder for the podcast, co-hosted an hour-long panel discussion on Paul Robeson’s legacy in folk music and civil rights, and assisted in the creation of the New Jersey Folk Festival virtual archive.
Before their time at the New Jersey Folk Festival, Ray was an Undergraduate Student Researcher at Rutgers University - New Brunswick, completing academic research for their senior thesis, Lady Sings the Blues: Billie Holiday’s Improvisation as Resistance. They also have experience as an Archival Intern at Rutgers University Special Collections and University Archives, and as an Understudy of Chief Justice Victoria Pratt at Newark Municipal Court & The Newark Community Solutions.
Ray Bess attended Montclair High School for their American/United States Studies/Civilization education. Ray then went on to Rutgers University–New Brunswick and obtained their Bachelor of Arts - BA in American/United States Studies/Civilization. Finally, they got their Public Ray'story Certification from Rutgers University–New Brunswick.
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