Ralph L. Parris holds a PhD in Geography with specialization in Latin America and the  Caribbean from the University of Sarasota; a Master of Arts in Geography from the Catholic University of America; and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Howard University.   His research interest has taken him to practically all of the Caribbean islands, Africa, South America, South East Asia, Central America, and Europe.  Similarly, he has presented academic paper at conferences in Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and Asia.  His publications include Academic Advisement for Urban and Rural Freshmen, American University Press, Lanham:  MD. 1982.  His research interests focus on the impact that Europeans have made on the cultural landscape of the Americas, with emphasis on the Caribbean, including its population, architecture, languages, music, literature, and education.  Some of his unpublished works include the following:  "The Strivings of the Caribbean Immigrant in the State of Maryland":  1934-1984, Morgan State University;  "The Economic Interest of Englishmen in the Caribbean Captivity Trade: 1640-1800", Association of Caribbean Studies Annual Meeting, Manaus, Brazil, 1945; "Religious Tolerance: A Case Study of the Shouter Baptist Faith in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,"  Association of Caribbean Studies Annual Meeting, Belize City, Belize, 1996;  "Modifications of the Private Spheres:  The Barbados Example"  Society for Philosophy and Geography Conference, Towson University, Towson, Maryland, 1999.   He is currently working on a book manuscript tentatively titled Pan Caribbean:  The Origin, Development and Diffusion of the Steel Band in the Caribbean.