Category: Sociology and Criminal Justice
Where Sociology Meets Public Service
April 06, 2026 Written by Chiu-Yin Mak | Photos courtesy of Caroline Klinger
UD alumna Caroline Klinger uses her understanding of social issues to shape public messaging and community engagement in Delaware government
For University of Delaware sociology alumna Caroline Klinger, a passion for public service has grown into a career in government communications. Today, Klinger serves as communications director for Mayor John Carney in the City of Wilmington, where she leads communications strategy and public engagement for the Mayor’s Office.
Before joining the city in August 2025, Klinger gained experience working in state government. She served as deputy director of communications for the Delaware State Senate Majority Caucus and previously worked in the Office of the Governor of Delaware as a digital communications manager under then-Governor Carney. In those roles, she supported major public events, managed digital communications and helped coordinate messaging across state agencies.
Klinger graduated from the University of Delaware in 2022 with a bachelor of arts in sociology and a minor in political science. Her interest in sociology developed alongside her long-standing interest in public service. Drawn to the field because it aligned with her professional interests, she found that sociology courses, along with classes in history, policy and criminal justice, helped her build a broad understanding of the public sector and the political landscape.
While sociology may not always seem like an obvious path to a communications career, Klinger said the perspective she gained through the discipline plays a significant role in her work. Understanding social issues and the complexities behind them has helped her communicate about government programs and initiatives more effectively.
“Organizations in every field rely on strong communications teams. Studying social issues helped me grasp many of the layered, intersectional problems that the government tries to solve, and I think my degree gave me the foundation necessary to effectively communicate about these issues,” she said.
Courses from her time at UD continue to resonate in her professional life. A class on disaster response proved especially relevant when communicating during extreme weather events, including the snowstorms that affected the region this winter. She also recalled a course on social programs and the social safety net that helped shape her understanding of how governments deliver services to vulnerable populations. Reflecting on her time at UD, Klinger noted that many experiences within the sociology program, and the University community more broadly, helped her become a more engaged and informed member of the community.
