Asking Better Questions: Why a Data Science Director Went Back to School
After more than 20 years in data science, Rony Reyes Pino could have settled comfortably into his career.
Instead, he decided to take on one of his biggest challenges yet: earning a Ph.D.
Rony has worked at Bank of America for 10 years, where he now serves as Director of Data Science. He is also part of the first cohort in UNC Charlotte’s Ph.D. in Data Science program, which he hopes to complete in December 2029.
For Rony, the degree isn’t about leaving his career behind. It’s about bringing new ideas into the work he already does.
“It has always been important to me to keep up to date with what technology and new methods are bringing to the table,” he said, “and to try to apply that to problems.”
That curiosity has shaped his career since it began in Mexico in 2002. Along the way, he earned bachelor’s degrees in science and mathematics, as well as three master’s degrees. Still, a Ph.D. remained a personal goal.
Rony had searched for the right opportunity for years. When he learned UNC Charlotte’s program could accommodate part-time students, he knew he had found it.
“I was very excited,” he said. “It’s something that allows me to achieve a personal goal, but I’m also able to put it into practice as part of my work.”
The connection between research and real-world application matters in a field evolving as quickly as data science. Private industry presents no shortage of complex problems, particularly when companies are working to better serve their customers. The Ph.D. program gives Rony time to explore emerging ideas and consider how they might be applied at work.
“Everything I take from this degree, hopefully I’ll be able to implement in my work,” he said.
Some of today’s biggest challenges don’t come with easy answers. Data scientists must consider how information is collected, interpreted and used while navigating questions involving ethics, regulations and social impact.
“We are among the first ones trying to answer questions that haven’t been answered before,” Rony said. “We have to be very careful with all the data we have access to and make sure we’re making the right decisions.”
For Rony, that also means knowing data alone cannot make every decision.
“You listen to what the data is telling you,” he said, “but you also have to incorporate your business acumen to make the best decision possible.”
Balancing that work with three Ph.D. courses requires support and plenty of patience. His family has adjusted to busy weekends and occasionally canceled holidays. Bank of America gives him the flexibility to attend campus sessions and sponsors his education, while UNC Charlotte offers courses later in the day to accommodate working professionals.
“My last three degrees and now the Ph.D. program have been fully funded by my employer,” he said. “That is wonderful.”
Despite his experience, Rony continues to choose opportunities that stretch him. His advice for professionals who wonder whether they’re too busy or too established to return to school is simple: don’t let doubt keep you comfortable.
“If I have the opportunity to take on a challenge, I will go for it,” he said. “You may fail at some point, but you can achieve great things in the process.”