Author Biography

Matthew DeBord is a Marine Corps veteran who served from 2002 to 2014 as a Radio Operator. Completing four combat tours to Iraq, enlisting after 9/11. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Veterans Studies with a minor in Social Work at Saint Leo University, with an expected graduation in Spring 2026. He has been accepted to graduate school in the Fall 2026. His higher education journey has be fraught with ups and downs; From homelessness to the birth of two son's to retaking classes due to not understanding academic rigor to graduating with honors to going to four different universities to realizing his true passion by pursuing a different Bachelor's degree, the one he's currently working on.

Matthew has worked as a Federal Work Study at Florida International University's (FIU) Office of Veteran & Military Affairs and is currently working in the same position at Saint Leo University’s Office of Military Affairs and Services, Military Resource Center. He supports and advises Veterans and military-connected students each semester on Veterans Affairs education benefits, financial aid, and campus resources.

Matthew has also worked as a Mobile Train Team Fellow, then Lead Fellow the following year, for the Warrior-Scholar Project. His main role was teaching and mentoring Veterans transitioning into higher education, giving them the tools to be successful at their chosen institution.

His academic and professional interests center on veterans policy, higher education access, and improving transition outcomes for Veteran and military-affiliated students, to ensure that Veterans don't make the same mistakes as he did.

Matthew's dedication to supporting fellow Veterans continues through his volunteer work as an Alumni Ambassador with the Warrior-Scholar Project, with Service to School, where he serves as a peer mentor helping Veterans gain admission to their chosen universities, and The Mission Continues, where he connects with fellow Veterans and improves the community with service projects.

A passionate advocate for veterans, Matthew works to help institutions identify and address gaps in policy affecting the veteran community. With projects like a Veteran and military-affiliated graduation and awards ceremony, graduation stoles for Veterans, and Priority registration on classes for Veterans and military-affiliated students.

Outside of his academic and advocacy work, Matthew enjoys spending time with his family, his beautiful wife and two sons (5 yrs old and 9 mo old).