Harvard University, B.A. in History
Boston College Lynch School of Education, M.Ed. with a focus on Religious Education
Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, Ph.D. in Theology and Education


Bio
Dr. Kevin M. Dowd is Assistant Professor of Theology at Anna Maria College. The son of a police officer and a nurse, and one of eight sons, Dr. Dowd is a native of Worcester, MA, where he graduated from Burncoat Senior High School. He went on to study at Harvard University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, cum laude. While pursuing his degree, he began his theological studies under Professors Jon D. Levenson and Gary Anderson, and future professor Hindi Najman. After college, Kevin spent two years volunteering with the Capuchin Franciscans at their Youth and Family Ministries Center in Garrison, NY, as part of Americorps. A career in secondary school teaching ensued, with theology appointments at Mother Cabrini High School in Washington Heights, Manhattan and then St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg, MA. He has also taught various subjects in the public schools of Sutton, MA. In 2008, he earned his Masters in Education from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College through the Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry. He earned a Ph.D. in Theology and Education from Boston College in 2021 with a dissertation entitled, "Toward a More Perfect Union: Religion and Education in American Public Schools." (His committee was composed of Dr. Thomas H. Groome (director), Dr. Michael James, and Dr. Richard Lennan). Kevin speaks nationwide on a number of topics, including a popular anti-bullying presentation and another popular presentation for religious educators on anti-racism and the Church. He is the author of two books from Twenty-third Publications: Teaching Kids to Respect Others: Reflections, Activities, and Prayers on Bullying and Prejudice (2018) and Your Confirmation Bible Companion: What Scripture as "God's Love Song" Means for You (2020). In addition to teaching at Anna Maria, Dr. Dowd is an active member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church in Worcester and serves on the board of directors of St. Mary's Healthcare on Queen Street in Worcester. He is a past president of the Worcester Public Library Board of Directors, and a current member of the board of the Friends of the Worcester Public Library.

Courses Taught
Dr. Dowd teaches undergraduate level Introduction to Theology, Catholic Social Teaching (CST), Theology of Service, and Racial Justice and the Church. At the graduate level, he also teaches courses on Vatican II, CST for deacon candidates, moral theology, Biblical theology, and methodology in religious education.

Research Interests
Catechesis/Religious Education and Formation
Racism and the Church; Anti-racism in Religious Education
Anti-bullying
Inter-religious Dialogue with a Focus on Jewish-Christian Dialogue
Religion and Public Education
Religion and Politics/Public Life


Publications
“Solidarity in Working for Peace,” Catechist magazine online. February 2024. https://www.catechist.com/solidarity-working-peace/

“The Good (Social Media) Samaritan.” Catechist magazine online. October 2023. https://www.catechist.com/good-social-media-samaritan/

“Confirmation: Communicating the Message.” Chapter in The Sacraments: Lesson helps, resources, and activities for busy catechists (Dayton, OH: Pflaum Publishing, 2023).

Your Bible Confirmation Companion: What Scripture as “God’s Love Song” Means for You (New London, CT: Twenty-third Publications, 2020).

“Front and Center: The Eucharist and Missionary Discipleship.” Catechetical Leader 30, no. 3 [August 2019]: 20-22.

Teaching Kids to Respect Others: Reflections, Activities and Prayers on Bullying and Prejudice (New London, CT: Twenty-third Publications, 2018).

TWIL: The Word Is Life. Published by Pflaum Gospel Weeklies. A weekly blog reflecting on the Scripture readings from each Sunday’s Mass. 2016-1018. https://www.gospelweeklies.com/category/twil/

“Communities need to work together to address bullying: Guest viewpoint.” The Republican Editorials and MassLive. September 10, 2015. https://www.masslive.com/opinion/2015/09/communities_need_to_work_toget.html

“Using the Bully Pulpit: Anthropological and Sociological Insights from Manifest Tragedy Applied to the Hidden Violence of Bullying in Our Schools.” Religious Education. March-April 2015.

“Jesus in the Midst.” In Thomas H. Groome, ed., C21 Resources. Boston College. Fall 2012 (“Handing on the Faith” issue).