Cara A. Chiaraluce

Cara A. Chiaraluce serves as a Teaching Professor and Department Internship Coordinator in the Department of Sociology at Santa Clara University's College of Arts and Sciences, where she has been a core faculty member since 2015 after teaching positions at UC Davis and California State University-Sacramento.

Her academic credentials include:

• B.A. in Sociology from Assumption College
• M.A. in Sociology from UC Davis
• Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Davis (2014)

Chiaraluce's research centers on structural inequalities in care systems, with groundbreaking work on how women navigate autism caregiving within fragmented U.S. social safety nets. Her scholarship critically examines intersections of gender, family dynamics, and health systems, particularly highlighting how cultural ideals of motherhood collide with inadequate institutional support. The 2024 publication of her book Becoming an Expert Caregiver: How Structural Flaws Shape Autism Carework and Community (Rutgers University Press) establishes her as a leading voice in feminist carework studies, revealing how mothers become de facto "expert caregivers" through systemic failures in education and healthcare.

Her scholarly recognition includes:

• Excellence in Undergraduate Education Award at UC Davis (2013)

As Department Internship Coordinator, Chiaraluce actively mentors students through SOC 198 Public Sociology Internships, connecting classroom theory with community engagement. She currently serves as a Faculty Associate with the Faculty Collaborative for Teaching Innovation, developing pedagogical approaches that integrate students' lived experiences with sociological frameworks. Her teaching portfolio spans foundational courses like Principles of Sociology alongside specialized offerings including Sociology of Family and Children, Youth, & Society.