Dr Kevin White

Dr Kevin White was appointed as the Head of Department of Nestorian Studies in June of 2017. He formerly served as the Country Director of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation in Kazakhstan. He is the founder of Pravda Forum, speaker, and writer specializing on the role of religion in economic development. Kevin has a Master of Arts in Intercultural Leadership and a Master of Arts in Religion, and completed his PhD in Religious Studies at the University of Salzburg in 2024. He has lived full time in Almaty, Kazakhstan since 1999. In addition to academic pursuits, Kevin has coached basketball in Kazakhstan for several years in various capacities and worked to develop basketball in Central Asia.

Publications

“A Silk Road Legacy: Freedom of Trade & Freedom of Religion.” A Paper presented at the International Conference of The Religions of Kazakhstan and Central Asia on the Great Silk Road. Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences. Almaty, Kazakhstan. June 12, 2017

“Kazakhstan in Question.” Breakpoint. November 2, 2016.

“Kazakhstan’s Alarming Increase in Religious Persecution.” Persecution.org. September 2016.

“Worldviews and Implications on Leadership.” Speaker at the Geneva Institute for Leadership and Public Policy Conference. Geneva, Switzerland. May 17, 2016.

“Kazakhstan Gas and Oil Companies Investing in the Future of a Nation through Sport and Community Development.” Investors Voice Magazine. Almaty, Kazakhstan. April 2016.

“Bridging the Divide: A Brief History of Sacred Versus Secular.” Business as Mission Review. April 29, 2015.

“Doing Business in Kazakhstan: Economic Implications of Worldview.” Business as Mission Review. February 10, 2015.

“Kazakhstan is at a Critical Point of Decision.” Persecution.org. January 5, 2015

“Embroidered Work.” Pensworth Magazine. Spring 2014.

“The Economic Benefits of Morality.” Exclusive Magazine. Almaty, Kazakhstan. June 6, 2013.

“Opportunity is Knocking at Kazakhstan’s Door: Three Vital Steps for Kazakhstan to Become the Center and Capitol of a Eurasia Economic Zone.” Exclusive Magazine. Almaty, Kazakhstan. April 18, 2013.

“American Dream.” NurSport Magazine. Reprinted in Sport Fanatik Magazine. March 11, 2013.

“The Way of the West.” ProSport Kazakhstan. June 8, 2010.

“Today is Game Day.” Streetball KZ Magazine. May 2010.

“American Basketball.” Sports.kz. March 7, 2007.

“The Future of Kazakhstan in Question- Both on and off the Basketball Court.” ProSport Kazakhstan Journal. May 12, 2006.

“Developing Sustainable Community Based Sport Programs.” Chapter published in Developing Sport in Central Asia Manual, ABT Associates. 2005.

“Sport and Community Development.” Speaker at the International Conference for Social Corporate Responsibility. Organized by UNDP and Global Impact. Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2005.

“Developing Sustainable Community Based Sport Programs.” Keynote speech presented at the Central Asian Sports Conference, organized by USAID, ABT Associates and SHEP. Tashkent, Uzbekistan. December 2, 2005.

“The Important Role of Business in Developing Community.” Speaker at the Kazakhstan Community Engagement Practitioners Forum. Organized by American Chamber of Commerce. Almaty, Kazakhstan. April 28-29, 2005.

“Kazakhstan Basketball Challenges.” ProSport Kazakhstan. December 13, 2004.

“Developing Basketball in Kazakhstan.” Prepared for Kazakhstan National Basketball Federation. March 8, 2002.