About Dr. Modestino
I arrived at Howard with a Ph.D. from Duke and a deep commitment to the ways that storytelling—whether in ancient oral epics, the discipline of history, or digital code—records and shapes our world. While my early research focused on the 19th-century Atlantic, my time teaching at Howard has centered on a broader challenge: how we maintain critical literacy as the tools we use to write and think continue to evolve.
My work is driven by an abiding interest in the intersection of the traditional humanities and our modern digital reality. Whether we are interrogating a classic global text or experimenting with a chatbot in a writing lab, the goal is the same: to understand how language is used to organize and mediate information and exercise power. I believe the analytical tools we use to navigate the ethics of a historical narrative are the same tools we must use to interrogate the algorithms that mediate our lives today.
In my classes, we bridge the gap between the historical record and critical algorithmic literacy. We treat technology not just as a tool, but as a form of writing with its own biases, risks, and structural logic. My goal is for you to leave this room not just as a better writer or researcher, but as a sharper thinker capable of navigating the complex systems—both human and algorithmic—that define our world.
Beyond the classroom, I am a proud member of the Howard NTT Faculty Union (SEIU Local 500), where I work to ensure the university remains a supportive environment for the people who drive its mission.
Contact Me
Schedule a Meeting
Office Hours, Monday and Friday 2-3:30 PM Locke 234
Book time with Modestino, Kevin: 15 minute office meeting
Other times available by Teams or Zoom, request by email