Cara grew up outside of Saint Louis, in a little town along the Meramec River. It was there that she developed a love for the outdoors and a passion for conservation. She achieved her Bachelors of Science from Murray State University in Wildlife Biology & Conservation Education while competing all four years as a collegiate rower and coxswain. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Education in Environmental Education through Slippery Rock University.

Cara started with Missouri Stream Team in March of 2022 after working in the Saint Louis Region as a Natural Resource Assistant for over a year for Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Before starting her career with MDC, she worked in the interpretive division of the U.S. National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, where she taught a variety of audiences about streams, caves, and wildlife. While working on her Bachelors, she gained experience as an undergraduate research assistant, analyzing samples of aquatic macroinvertebrates. In her current position, her primary responsibilities are assisting Stream Teams in the North, Kansas City, and Central Regions, and serving as the Missouri Stream Team's Communications Lead.

Cara is also a water enthusiast in her free time; besides rowing, she likes to fish and wakeboard. She has a dog, Fjord, who is her best friend and comes on all her adventures with her. She married her loving husband Ryan in 2023, and now lives in Columbia, Missouri.