She received her Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation and a minor in Special Education from the University of Florida. She has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida and at Arizona State University prior to moving to Miami. Her primary research interests include therapeutic recreation and recreation as a means for building social capital and community development in relation to the needs of at-risk youth and families. Her research has been presented at state, national, and international conferences related to therapeutic recreation, youth development, homelessness, community development, and social capital. Cari has published in journals such as the Therapeutic Recreation Journal, World Leisure Journal, Leisure Sciences, Sociology of Sport Journal, and Leisure/Loisir