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When Cameren Hicks graduated from �Ը������� University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in and a minor in , he knew he wanted to build a career rooted in numbers, problem-solving and analysis. 

Today, Hicks is a fraud modeling and analytics lead associate at KeyBank, where he helps protect customers and the company against fraudulent credit and debit card activity. 

A First-Generation Student With a Passion for Math
Hicks, a first-generation college graduate, said math always came naturally to him.

“I was always into math in high school,” he said. “In high school, I did some math competitions and clubs—I was always into the deeper side of math.” 

A high school teacher who was pursuing a doctorate at �Ը�������’s Department of Mathematical Sciences encouraged Hicks to consider the university. Combined with a desire to stay close to his large family in Northeast Ohio, �Ը������� became his top choice.

“I knew I made the right decision when I saw the campus and met people from the math department,” Hicks said.  

A �Ը������� Experience That Prepared Him for More
At �Ը�������, Hicks said the breadth of opportunities available to students helped him prepare for a career in analytics. He benefited from the Choose Ohio First Scholarship, which offered both financial support and chances to work on real-world projects with industry partners.

“The projects helped me with my classes at Kent as well,” Hicks said. “To use what I learned in my classes in those real-world problems and situations was invaluable [for job interviews].” 

He also spent three years as a math tutor, which he calls one of the best jobs on campus.

Faculty members played a key role in his education. Hicks mentioned Nathan Ritchey, Ph.D., who taught a senior-level modeling projects course.

“That was definitely a formative class for me,” Hicks said. “The skills that I used in that class—I use a good amount of them now working in fraud modeling.”  

Career Opportunities Through KeyBank
Hicks first encountered KeyBank at a �Ը������� career fair. While he originally thought of banking jobs as primarily finance-focused, he discovered that the company offered quantitative and data-driven roles.

He interned with KeyBank in 2021, then entered its rotational analyst program, where he spent a year rotating through different teams. Eventually, he joined the fraud modeling group full-time.

“Every time you swipe your card or do an online transaction, that transaction gets scored,” Hicks said. “Those scores, other information and our rules are used to determine if it’s fraud or not.” 

Now working remotely, Hicks collaborates with colleagues across the country. His team runs quarterly performance assessments on fraud models, ensuring they remain effective and compliant with federal regulations.

Some projects can take months to complete, but the payoff is significant. 

“Just over Q1 2025, we saved $250,000 in fraudulent transactions,” Hicks said. “It’s challenging and rewarding.”  

Looking Ahead
Hicks sees artificial intelligence as the next frontier in fraud prevention, though strict federal regulations make implementation complex. KeyBank has already begun experimenting with new AI tools to improve efficiency and accuracy.

Hicks plans to pursue a master’s degree in data science, supported by KeyBank’s educational benefits.

“I like the industry enough that I’m going to continue,” he said.  

Advice for Current Students
Hicks encourages �Ը������� students to take full advantage of the resources available to them.

“You’ll get out what you put in,” he said. “Kent has so many different programs and it’s so diverse... it has anything that you could want.”  

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