My Bio
Read below to find out more about me and my journey!
About MeService, Excellence, ExplorationMy name is Matthew Dumford. I am double majoring in Information Technology and Cybersecurity at the University of Cincinnati. I am also pursing a Master's degree in Criminal Justice. I love working with network technology, especially on a datacenter scale. Configuring routing devices, implementing firewall rules, and performing network penetration tests are just a few examples of the skills I have learned in my four years of university classes. I am set to graduate in May 2024, with five semesters of work experience in addition to all three of my degrees. I am excited to continue developing my skills and my career!
I love Cincinnati. I grew up here, from Fairview-Clifton German Language Elementary School to Walnut Hills High School and now to UC. Through my church, I have found several ways to give back to this awesome city. I have refereed soccer, taught swim lessons, tutored elementary and high school students, and volunteered downtown at Matthew 25 Ministries. I have continued to serve while enrolled at UC, through tutoring programs like Bearcat Coders at Hugh's High School. When the pandemic started, I switched to remotely tutoring students from Walnut Hills. I have continued to volunteer that way since 2020. Giving back and making a difference in my community is important to me. I have a history of academic excellence. I received a perfect score on the ACT, was a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, and graduated 25th out of a class of 448. My undergraduate GPA remains a 4.0 after four years of classes. I am part of the honors program at UC, where I intend to continue exceeding expectations. The honors program has allowed me to participate in several unique experiences, including the LeaderShape retreat and a home server project. While in the honors program, I can explore what I love and learn to better myself at the same time. |
I am excited to explore the future. UC provides opportunities to explore all of my interests and passions, from martial arts to hackathons. The opportunities for co-op at UC broaden the possibilities even further. So far I have completed four co-op's at two different companies in Cincinnati. There are infinite paths I could take, and they all start now. It will take real effort, but I know I will find the path that is right for me. Once I do, watch out!
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Pictures of MeRecent JourneysThese pictures are all from the summer of 2019. They span from my high school graduation (top left) all the way to move-in day at my dorm (bottom left), covering several trips with my family in between. I traveled to Maine (middle column), Burr Oak State Park in Ohio (bottom right), and did some hometown adventuring right here in Cincinnati (top right).
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I have been interested in law enforcement since I was young. When I started looking for colleges, I decided that I wanted prepare myself to enter law enforcement at the federal level. I was initially planning to major in criminal justice. Several people told me that I should find a unique skill to major in that would differentiate me from the crowd. At the same time, I was taking AP Computer Science and loving it! UC's IT major had a Cybersecurity focus that seemed like the perfect blend of my law enforcement interest and my computer science passion. In the fall of 2020, the Cybersecurity focus became its own major. This exciting news allowed me to pivot into a double major, staying with the IT program and simultaneously adding a new degree. I also began taking classes for a Master's in Criminal Justice, leaving the door open for federal law enforcement but also preparing me for the legal landscape of network security.
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