Ray helps to coordinate departmental initiatives and academic services, including advising, student recruitment and retention, career exploration activities, special programming, and alumni outreach. A specialist in early American history, Ray also serves as the advisor for the OSU chapter of Phi Alpha Theta and as academic advisor for honors history undergraduates.

His most recent publication, "The Origins of the Buckeye Nickname," appears in the Fall 2022 issue of Ohio History. In November 2021, WOSU Media aired a news story, "Buckeye Nickname Origin Story Called into Question," based on the research.