Graduate Program in Public Policy Alumni Profiles
Raymond "Ray" Banks, Sr.
Summer 2018 Archer Fellow
Internship: Defense Health Agency
Education
Excelsior College
B.S. Psychology; May 2001
University of Kansas
M.S.B. Logistics and Supply Chain Management; June 2012
The University of Texas at San Antonio
M.P.A. Public Administration; December 2019
Career
United States Army (Retired)
Summer 2018 Archer Fellow
Internship: Defense Health Agency
Education
Excelsior College
B.S. Psychology; May 2001
University of Kansas
M.S.B. Logistics and Supply Chain Management; June 2012
The University of Texas at San Antonio
M.P.A. Public Administration; December 2019
Career
United States Army (Retired)
"I valued that I could draw from the academic curriculum to apply to the experiential learning setting and make a logical assessment."
Q & A with Ray
Please tell us more about your current position.
I am retired from the United States Army.
What has been your general career path?
My general career path has been as a logistics officer in the United States Army.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
My experience as an Archer Fellow has altered my long-tern plans such that I, now, plan to make a difference by serving as a voice for those that don't have one.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
I valued the public policy immersion opportunity mostly. This opportunity gave me first-hand insight into the world of politicians and public administrators. I considered the relevance of Woodrow Wilson’s politics – administration dichotomy theory as I reflected on my experience throughout the summer. His theory is that politics and administration are inherently different and should be treated as such. This helped as I would reconcile disparity between the responsibilities of the public servants. I valued that I could draw from the academic curriculum to apply to the experiential learning setting and make a logical assessment.
What was the most important thing you learned as an Archer Fellow?
My Archer experience has taught me that our elected officials all believe in what they are doing. Their ideals and policies are based on their perspective of what is best for their constituents and the nation, though, sometimes their ideals and policies diverge within the party, and across party lines. Our congressional representatives, also, are not the experts on all matters and issues that affect every day Americans. However, they will hear our concerns and may enlist our assistance with developing a solution. We should not suffer in silence, we should get involved by engaging our elected officials at all levels.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumna?
What I value most about being an Archer alumna is relationship building. I have enjoyed the many fascinating people that I have met, connections, and the lifelong friendships that I have made. There are so many ordinary people doing extraordinary work for a cause greater than themselves. I am inspired by their passion to pursue necessary changes and advocate for those that cannot advocate for themselves. They embody the change that they want to see in the world and the policy that they want to inform. I am proud to be an Archer.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
My favorite Graduate in Public Policy memory was on Independence Day, July 4th, 2018. Experiencing Independence Day on the National Mall in Washington D.C. was like no other experience. Hundreds of people began arriving on the National Mall at approximately 11 a.m. to stake out their location for the fireworks display later that evening and enjoy the free all day live entertainment. The most amazing part of the entire day was the constant entertainment on the mall up until the fireworks. If that was not enough, the live entertainment continued after the fireworks. It was like New Year’s Eve at time square.
Do you have advice for prospective students?
I strongly urge you to apply, if you are a student considering the Public Policy Graduate Program. The program is a very rewarding once in a live time experience. You will interact daily and engage with professionals that are equally as passionate as you are about our government. Legislation is informed by research conducted across all educational disciplines (engineers, botanist, economist, etc.), not just the field of public policy. What matters most is that you have a desire to make a difference as we strive for perfection and a desire to advocate for those who are unable to advocate for themselves.
Please tell us more about your current position.
I am retired from the United States Army.
What has been your general career path?
My general career path has been as a logistics officer in the United States Army.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
My experience as an Archer Fellow has altered my long-tern plans such that I, now, plan to make a difference by serving as a voice for those that don't have one.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
I valued the public policy immersion opportunity mostly. This opportunity gave me first-hand insight into the world of politicians and public administrators. I considered the relevance of Woodrow Wilson’s politics – administration dichotomy theory as I reflected on my experience throughout the summer. His theory is that politics and administration are inherently different and should be treated as such. This helped as I would reconcile disparity between the responsibilities of the public servants. I valued that I could draw from the academic curriculum to apply to the experiential learning setting and make a logical assessment.
What was the most important thing you learned as an Archer Fellow?
My Archer experience has taught me that our elected officials all believe in what they are doing. Their ideals and policies are based on their perspective of what is best for their constituents and the nation, though, sometimes their ideals and policies diverge within the party, and across party lines. Our congressional representatives, also, are not the experts on all matters and issues that affect every day Americans. However, they will hear our concerns and may enlist our assistance with developing a solution. We should not suffer in silence, we should get involved by engaging our elected officials at all levels.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumna?
What I value most about being an Archer alumna is relationship building. I have enjoyed the many fascinating people that I have met, connections, and the lifelong friendships that I have made. There are so many ordinary people doing extraordinary work for a cause greater than themselves. I am inspired by their passion to pursue necessary changes and advocate for those that cannot advocate for themselves. They embody the change that they want to see in the world and the policy that they want to inform. I am proud to be an Archer.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
My favorite Graduate in Public Policy memory was on Independence Day, July 4th, 2018. Experiencing Independence Day on the National Mall in Washington D.C. was like no other experience. Hundreds of people began arriving on the National Mall at approximately 11 a.m. to stake out their location for the fireworks display later that evening and enjoy the free all day live entertainment. The most amazing part of the entire day was the constant entertainment on the mall up until the fireworks. If that was not enough, the live entertainment continued after the fireworks. It was like New Year’s Eve at time square.
Do you have advice for prospective students?
I strongly urge you to apply, if you are a student considering the Public Policy Graduate Program. The program is a very rewarding once in a live time experience. You will interact daily and engage with professionals that are equally as passionate as you are about our government. Legislation is informed by research conducted across all educational disciplines (engineers, botanist, economist, etc.), not just the field of public policy. What matters most is that you have a desire to make a difference as we strive for perfection and a desire to advocate for those who are unable to advocate for themselves.