Bio

Amarachi Chuka-Maduji, M.A. is a doctoral student at the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Research and Analysis from Montclair State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies, with a minor in English, from Caldwell University.

Amarachi has supported statewide efforts to address the shortage of Certified Home Health Aides (CHHAs) in New Jersey. Her work includes helping to implement pilot programs that provided scholarships for aspiring CHHAs, designing a mentorship model that paired new aides with experienced workers, and contributing to a training initiative aimed at upskilling the existing CHHA workforce. Beyond her work in direct care, Amarachi has contributed to research projects focused on the needs of New Jersey’s homeless population, employment access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the broader care economy landscape. She also helped develop a statewide CHHA workforce survey to better understand job satisfaction, challenges, and support needs directly from workers in the field.

Her research interests include advancing equitable employment opportunities for underserved populations, particularly individuals experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, and reentering citizens.

Degrees

• M.A., Montclair State University, 2022
• B.A., Caldwell University, 2020

​PhD Advisor

Dr. Stephen Metraux