Alumni Spotlight
Chiara Nease - BA 2009, MEd 2021
Director for Academic Support Services, City Colleges of Chicago
Meet Chiara
I currently work for City Colleges of Chicago as the director for academic support services. I am at Daley College, which is on the Southwest side of Chicago. I began my career in education shortly after graduating from DePaul. My first job was at a small Catholic high school in Chicago. I served in many roles: program director, teacher, and coordinator of services to our diverse body of learners. I transitioned to higher education after getting my master’s degree at DePaul, with a focus in counseling. I believe that education changes lives and am proud to help all students of all backgrounds and abilities reach their educational and professional goals.
Sociology informs the work I do in a big way. I believe it helps me think about the 'whys' behind the way things are, especially in the institutions I have worked for. I have worked with students from various backgrounds and educational profiles. Systems are in place for some students but not all, so my line of work must be approached from an equity perspective. Access to services for all is foundational. I am staunchly committed to giving all students access to resources, support networks, and opportunities. I also believe in being culturally responsive and holding students to the highest standards for success. DePaul’s sociology department laid the groundwork for this framework. Direct experience in the field, trial and error, and strong mentorship contributed to creating programming which delivered on these points.
One thing that stood out to me in the program is the hands-on approach to understanding course content. I remember an upper-level Sociology class where our main project took place in a Chicago neighborhood. We were tasked with analyzing health outcomes of people in that area by taking note of organizations, food sources, clinics, and more. I was assigned to Albany Park. I am grateful to have been connected to the curriculum with what was happening in the field. Using Chicago as a learning tool was something that DePaul and the sociology department did well. I also had phenomenal instructors who were committed to DePaul’s mission of social justice.
Claire Reardon - MA 2023
University of Kentucky - Doctoral Program
Meet Claire
Currently, I am enrolled in a doctoral program in the Department of Sociology at the University of Kentucky. My dissertation proposal focuses on coalitions that assist people in traveling for abortions as mitigators of structural violence. In addition, I am an instructor for SOC 101 and Sociology of Gendered Violence in Families at the university. I also serve as a research assistant for another university, analyzing potential contraceptive-related non-response issues in national surveys such as the NSFG and BRFSS. Lastly, I volunteer as a research assistant for the Kentucky Reproductive Freedom Fund to support its mission of reinstating the constitutional right to abortion.
Thinking sociologically has come in handy a couple of times in my sociology PhD program! All jokes aside, thinking sociologically benefits my general way of thinking and especially when faced with new information or topics. Looking through a lens of sociological theory and understanding allows me to critically analyze systems and structures to better understand power dynamics that surround us. It has opened my eyes to the importance of rural sociology, especially coming from a city like Chicago, to value and appreciate people from all walks of life. Moreover, with the recent political climate in 2025, it helps me evaluate information and its validity - something that can be difficult in a world with omnipresent media, opinions, and information. Personally, it has made me much more focused in my passion for social justice and has given me frameworks to critically think and act in ways that have an impact on marginalized communities.