PhD in Sociology

Kevin Nazar, 2025

Kevin Nazar Pastor earned his PhD in Sociology from George Mason University in 2025. While at George Mason he was adjunct professor for the Honors College, graduate lecturer for the Department of Sociology, GRA for the Institute for Immigration Research and the Center for Social Science Research, president of the Public Sociology Association and member of the Global South Hub at CSSR. 

What was your specific area of study and how did you choose it? 

My area of study was Public and Applied Sociology for my PhD which I undertook through the Globalization Track. My doctoral dissertation was on the Contemporary Social Correlates and Predictors to the Emergence of Hyper-nationalism where I analyzed what conditions could lead to this phenomenon. 

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you? 

The work experience at George Mason, through work as researcher within the centers as well as the experience as a professor, was a key complement to the classes received in the PhD program. At the graduate level, and more specifically at the PhD level, applying your knowledge becomes key, and CHSS provided the opportunities for this. 

Which accomplishments during your time at George Mason are you most proud of? 

I was proud of the work I did in reports within George Mason where I was able to show, with concrete empirical data, the real conditions and contributions of minorities such as immigrants in the United States despite the growing socio-political tensions around this topic. 

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your George Mason career? 

There were great faculty members who taught me essential skills as well as staff members in my department who were heroes in this story. Professor Jim Witte, who was my advisor, taught me incredible data analysis skills. Katherine Foarde and Farhana Islam did so much for me at the administrative level that I don't think I would have made this far without their amazing help. 

What advice would you give to an incoming cohort of graduate students? 

Start applying what you learn as soon as possible. It is up to you, not the faculty, to see how what you are learning applies to your current or future job. Don't be afraid of quantitative methods, you will need them in today's increasingly technology-driven world. Love what you do or else you won't like it, there is no in between. 

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals? 

I will work in the field after graduation, and I plan to start writing books in addition to the scientific articles and reports I have been writing up until now. A PhD is not only a CV milestone, it will also give more heft to your voice as a researcher and writer. Long-term I plan to continue to write solidly about my research.