Making data meaningful

For Kurt Paldino, ’22, the path to a career in criminal justice analytics wasn’t obvious at first. Baseball guided him through his undergraduate years, but as he neared graduation, he realized he needed clarity about what came next.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to get into at all,” he said. “I knew I wanted to be in a field that was data- and analytics-driven, but I didn’t know how to get there or what skills to obtain.”

That changed when he discovered Central Michigan University’s Master of Science in Information Systems program.

Finding the right fit

After an early exploration of another graduate program, Paldino recognized he needed something that blended business, people, and technology in a more intentional way.

“It was pretty apparent that the other [MSA] program wasn’t the right fit for me,” he said. “The MSIS courses challenged me in the right ways, and the professors in the MSIS system really cared about making sure you understood the subject matter and could relate it to something later in your career.”

The mix of technical training and human-centered problem solving stood out.

“A lot of people in my industry are highly technical, but they don’t always understand the full business process,” he said. “What I really valued from the MSIS degree was how much it focused on bridging the gap and understanding the human user for any technology system in business.”

His coursework quickly proved relevant.

“My job now is as a data engineer, and a lot of the classes I took — database fundamentals and SQL — are things I use literally every day.”

Turning data into impact

Today, Paldino works for Luminosity, a niche consulting firm specializing in criminal justice analytics. His role centers on helping jurisdictions turn complex, disconnected data into insights policymakers can trust.

“A lot of our work is translating what policy decision-makers need into requirements we can then create a system for,” he said. “We help them analyze their data and link systems that don’t talk to each other — police departments, courts, case management systems.”

One of his earliest projects remains a defining moment.

“It was one of the first times I saw a project start to finish,” he said. “Being able to completely change the way an office reports on what they care about was really eye-opening and pretty rewarding.”

Ethics at the heart of the work

Working with real people’s lives behind the numbers shaped his perspective on responsibility.

“It’s all criminal justice data, and it genuinely affects people’s day-to-day lives,” he said. “The way you convey data is super important. It’s critical to handle data ethically so the story it tells is accurate.”

He keeps that top of mind when creating dashboards, reports, and measures.

“Making sure things are noted correctly, that data isn’t being misconstrued, and that you’re representing things truthfully is really important.”

A program that opened doors

Paldino credits much of his early direction to CMU faculty — especially Emil Boasson, who guided him during a pivotal moment.

“For whatever reason, he saw a lot in me,” Paldino said. “He even offered me the opportunity to be a grad assistant. He really helped me with figuring out the next steps and gave me chances I probably wouldn’t have pursued on my own.”

He also participated in ERPsim during his program — one of the first competitions CMU ran virtually during COVID.

“It was fun to have a team you actually worked with for a few sessions and then participated in the game,” he said. “My experience was very unique because everything was online, but it was still a cool opportunity.”

Advice for new graduates

Looking back, Paldino said the key to early career success is curiosity.

“The biggest and most important thing is being curious and trying to figure things out on your own,” he said. “So much of the information you need is available, but you have to dig for it. It goes so much further if you’re looking for answers instead of just doing what’s required”

He wishes he'd embraced that spirit even earlier.

“There were points where I was just trying to get through a lot of it,” he said. “I wish I would have taken a step back at times, enjoyed it, and been a little more curious in my coursework.”

A career built through connection, curiosity, and purpose

Looking back, Paldino says CMU prepared him not just with skills but with confidence.

“When I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, this program was great at guiding me,” he said. “It ended up being the perfect fit.”