People

Hi all! My name is Matthew Bodo, and my lived name is Bodo. I grew up in the San Jose area and South Bay. Even though I didn’t graduate high school, I enrolled at Foothill College. There, I became interested in Higher Education and in helping students. After a few years of ups and downs, I graduated with degrees in Communications, Psychology, and Social Sciences and transferred to UCLA in 2019. I graduated with a degree in Linguistics and Psychology in 2022, and soon began working here with RCNR.

At Foothill, I worked with homeless students directly and as an advocate for both them and the general homeless population of the Bay Area. Advocating for policy and working with administration felt incredibly rewarding, but working with students was the most fulfilling thing I had ever done. At UCLA, I continued the advocacy work with Rise, working specifically to support homeless and housing insecure students. I then began with the Bruin Guardian Scholars program (similar to Berkeley Hope Scholars), engaging much more directly with students. In my last year, I worked as a peer advisor for the Center for Community College Partnerships, advising their Foster Cohort. I served community college students looking to transfer to UCs, as well as other universities. The amazing students I worked with solidified my decision to be an advisor, and showed me how impactful an advisor’s support can be. I’m here to help however I can, and hope to be someone who can get you any support you need, outside of just the academic!

In my free time, I love to cook, and to explore by hiking and going for walks. I also love learning about computers, software, and current world issues to stay politically informed and active.

Fun fact: my guilty pleasure is older Nintendo games, usually on the Gamecube and N64. If you’re into them too, strike up a conversation with me!