Baldwin blazes path for MIS students to research health, human performance at OSU

Baldwin blazes path for MIS students to research health, human performance at OSU

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Media Contact: Hallie Hart | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-1050 | [email protected]

Kyler Baldwin stepped out of his comfort zone into a role that didn't exist before him.

In fall 2024, he arrived at an office in Oklahoma State University's Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development to meet Lance Walker, the Rick and Gail Muncrief executive director of the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute.

Baldwin, then a management information systems undergraduate student in the Spears School of Business, had more experience assembling computers than tracking biometrics for sports medicine. However, his presence in this meeting with a licensed physical therapist was no mistake.

Kim Strom, assistant head of the Department of Management Science and Information Systems, was there to vouch for Baldwin. When HPNRI contacted Strom about initiating a partnership with the MSIS department to analyze health data, she chose a star student as the trailblazer.

"This project required more than technical skill - it required maturity, discretion and leadership," Strom said. "Kyler has consistently shown all three. I selected him because I knew he would take the responsibility seriously, collaborate effectively with clients and deliver high-quality analytics solutions on time. He has exceeded every expectation."

Baldwin admitted the unfamiliar project was scary at first, but he didn't let the data intimidate him for long.

About a year and a half later, Baldwin's initiative is rewarding him while boosting HPNRI and the MSIS department. He has analyzed tens of thousands of data points, learned how to conduct impactful research and laid the groundwork for the Data Wranglers, the MSIS students working with HPNRI.

A rising researcher

From a pool of 200-plus submitted research abstracts, Baldwin's is one of about 10 selected for an upcoming presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine Central States Conference in February at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. This means Baldwin will compete for an outstanding student research award.

Following the Cowboy Code, Kyler Baldwin dreams as big as the sky. He is preparing to compete for a research award at a sports medicine conference.

It's a rare experience for a business student, but Baldwin's work speaks to the versatility of an MIS degree while showing the importance of data analysis in sports medicine and human performance. For athletic trainers and nutrition scientists to make advancements in their fields, someone has to gather and organize relevant data.

"As a Data Wrangler, your job is to get that data ready for analysis," Baldwin said. "Then, if you have the skill set, you can also perform the analysis. We want to make sure that the data is valid, that it's correct, and then we can use it to make decisions."

Baldwin works alongside Dr. Matthew Bird, an HPNRI performance science coordinator. Their research harnesses a dataset from firefighters, including fitness test metrics. The key topic of Baldwin's abstract is VO2 max, also known as maximal oxygen consumption.

"It's basically how much oxygen your body can use whenever you're doing work," Baldwin said. "It's kind of the gold standard for measuring physical fitness or health in general because it's an indicator of a lot of things down the road. So, this abstract focused on statistical methods and data science methods, on how to predict and interpret VO2 max based on different physiological indicators."

A personal mission

Baldwin, an MIS graduate pursuing his master's degree in business analytics and data science, is surprising himself with his research journey.

Although he couldn't imagine how far his interests would carry him, his love for technology was evident throughout his teenage years in Davis, Oklahoma.

"I built my own computer whenever I was in high school," Baldwin said. "And then, somehow, I talked my mom into letting me build her computer."

Realizing his interests aligned with Spears Business programs, Baldwin eagerly attended campus events for high school students. He holds onto the Spears Business T-shirt he tie-dyed during one of those memorable visits.

While building his future, Baldwin was navigating grief.

In 2021, his father passed away at 58, before Baldwin graduated from high school. The loss made Baldwin, then only a teenager, think seriously about health - not only for himself and his family, but for all Oklahomans.

Baldwin has seen troubling nationwide rankings for Oklahoma health outcomes, and he doesn't want to be complacent about the issue.

"It's definitely an area for improvement in the state," Baldwin said. "I was born in Oklahoma. I live in Oklahoma. I'm going to graduate and continue to live in Oklahoma, so I want what's best for the state, and it's an area where I can make an impact."

With personal motivation, Baldwin stayed in his home state for college. As an incoming freshman, he received financial support from awards that include Oklahoma Academic All-State and OSU President's Leadership Council. Baldwin further honed his leadership skills in OSU's Data Analytics Club, where he has served as president.

A foundation for the future

As a Data Wrangler, Baldwin didn't just lead - he shaped a new role, solidifying the partnership between MSIS and HPNRI. Dr. Rick Wilson, the MSIS department head, said he and his colleagues are proud of Baldwin's accomplishments.

"The outstanding work of Professor Strom in creating these collaborative partnerships with groups such as HPNRI highlight our talented MIS and data analytics students and add tremendous value to the students, the organization and in this case, the future health of Oklahomans," Wilson said. "It has been great working with Lance Walker and Dr. Bird at HPNRI, and we appreciate the opportunities they've given Kyler."

While conducting research with HPNRI, Baldwin is advancing his education and career. He earned his MIS bachelor's degree in May 2025, graduating as a Spears Business Top 5 Senior in the MSIS department.

Now, he has an internship with Devon Energy while finishing his MS BAnDS coursework. After obtaining his master's degree, Baldwin will work full time for Devon Energy in Oklahoma City.

The close move will allow him to stay in touch with the MSIS department and HPNRI. In fall 2025, OSU broke ground on the Boone Pickens Human Performance Innovation Complex, which will serve as HPNRI's permanent home. Baldwin said he plans to return to Stillwater to see the facility, and he's excited about the growing opportunities.

Baldwin is no longer the lone Data Wrangler.

Business students Femi Abioye and Benjamin Hennel have joined him, and Abioye is presenting a poster at the ACSM conference in February.

After taking a chance on launching this unique cross-campus collaboration, Baldwin strives to instill confidence in the MIS students who follow him.

"I've taken on more of a mentorship role with them alongside Dr. Bird, helping them from my perspective on what's worked well for me, what tools they can use to help them get their work done efficiently," Baldwin said. "I've been in their shoes, so I know what it looks like."

Visit the website to learn more about the Spears Business MSIS department.