• Ph.D., University of Southern California, Los Angeles

• Master of City Planning, University of California, Berkeley

• Master of Divinity, Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO

• Master of Arts, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego

• Bachelor of Arts, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego

Professional Experience: Michael Mata serves as the Associate Pastor for Community Affairs at Los Angeles First Church of the Nazarene and is the former Coordinator for World Vision's church-based community and congregational development efforts in Los Angeles. He was involved in the rebuilding after the 1992 Los Angeles riots, helping to organize African-American, Latino, and Korean evangelical leadership. Michael serves on the boards and advisory councils of many Southern California community-based ecumenical and non-profit development organizations and has gained recognition in the community as a consummate crafter of coalitions.