Cara has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for 7 years and is going up for tenure this Fall. She works on microscale and distributed deformation in fold-thrust belts, as well as the influence of pre-existing faults on subsequent deformation. Research methods include remote sensing, fieldwork, and analog modeling, as well as seismic interpretation. She serves on the IODP Science Evaluation Panel, and is the President of the Cornhusker Chapter of the Association of Women Geoscientists.