Kevin Modesto, Ph.D., MSW, MATS

Co-Chair, Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Family Sciences
Professor of Sociology and Social Work

Kevin Modesto is Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Social Work at Point Loma Nazarene University. His primary passion is the role of religion in social intervention and transformation. Kevin brings a unique blend of scholarly and practical experience to the field, having started and led a faith-based nonprofit and church in Raleigh, NC and served as a program director and on pastoral staff in Los Angeles. He is the author of numerous article and reports, including his most recent book Not by faith alone: A preliminary evaluation of faith-based welfare to work programs (2013). His current research and community activity focuses on racial reconciliation and social services immigrant and refugees groups. Kevin currently resides in the diverse neighborhood of City Heights with his family, where they are engaged with their neighbors.

Education

  • Ph.D., School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • M.S.W., School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • M.A.T.S., Palmer Seminary of Eastern University
  • B.A., History, Eastern Nazarene College

Courses Taught

  • Race and Ethnic Relations – SOC 360
  • Introduction to Social Work – SWK 303
  • Social Welfare Policy – SWK 330
  • Human Behavior in the Social Environment – SWK 365
  • Introduction to Sociology – SOC 101
  • Sociology of Religion – SOC 430
  • Social Research Methods – SOC 460
  • Urban Sociology – SOC 350

Experience in Field

  • Chair, Sociology and Social Work, Point Loma Nazarene University, 2007 – present
  • Professor, Sociology and Social Work, Point Loma Nazarene University, 2010 – present
  • Associate Professor, Social Work and Sociology, Point Loma Nazarene University, 2006 – 2010
  • Assistant Professor of Social Work and Sociology, Point Loma Nazarene University, 2002 – 2006
  • Executive Director, Neighbor to Neighbor Ministries, Raleigh, NC, 1993 – 2002
  • Senior Pastor, Tapestry: A Church of the Nazarene, Raleigh, NC, 1993 – 2002

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Reviewer, Religions
  • North American Association of Christians in Social Work
  • Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
  • Community Housing Works, Facelift Committee, San Diego, CA
  • San Diego Organizing Project, Clergy Caucus, San Diego, CA
  • Peer reviewer, North American Association of Christians in Social Work National Conference.
  • Program Committee, Association of Nazarene Sociologists and Researchers.

Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications

Books:

  • Modesto, K. F. (2013). Not by faith alone: A preliminary evaluation of a faith-based welfare to work program. Saarbrücken: Scholars’ Press.

Sample Articles:

  • Modesto, K. F., Weaver, A. J., & Flannelly, K. J. (2006). A systematic review of religious and spiritual research in social work. Social Work and Christianity, 33(1).
  • Modesto, K. F. (2004). "Won't be weighted down:" Richard R. Wright, Jr.'s contributions to social work and social welfare. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 31(2), 69-89.

Sample Presentations:

  • Modesto, K.F. Embodying the living the word: Compassion as spiritual formation for the holy life, Fruin Holiness Conference: The Heart of Holiness – Compassion and the Holy Life, Kankakee, IL, February 26, 2014
  • Modesto, K. F., Is justice enough: Moving from justice to shalom, at the Southern California Chapter Meeting of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work, March 2013, Ontario, CA.
  • Modesto, K. F. & Modesto, R. R. Bridging campus and community divides: Using service learning as a catalyst for faculty, administrative and community collaboration, at the National Faith-Based Service Learning Conference, June 2012, Grantham, Pennsylvania.
  • Modesto, K. F. Consuming Discipleship: The relative strengths and weaknesses of spiritual capital for evaluating missional effectiveness in the Church of the Nazarene, at the Association of Nazarene Sociologists and Social Researchers, March 2009, Lenexa, Kansas.

Trainings and Consultations:

  • Modesto, K. F., Living the dream by seeking shalom: A training on institutional racism and racial reconciliation in church and society. Connect City Heights. San Diego, CA. September 10, 2016.
  • Modesto, R. R. & Modesto, K. F. , Overview of race and ethnicity in City Heights. San Diego Regional Girls Scouts Council Outreach Team Training. San Diego, CA, January 7, 2016.
  • University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture – The Future of Charitable Choice. September 2016