Alissa studied agriculture at the University of California, Davis and worked in the agriculture industry for six years before transitioning her career to the nonprofit industry. Before joining JFN, she held various administrative and volunteer management roles at two Colorado nonprofits centered on outdoor recreation, education, and stewardship. Most recently, Alissa worked for the Colorado Mountain Club as a volunteer manager, helping adults in Colorado develop skills to lead outdoor recreational trips.

Born and raised in the reform Jewish community in Marin County, California, Alissa now calls Boulder, Colorado home. In her spare time, she can be found hiking the extensive trails of Colorado, rock climbing, doing acro yoga, snowboarding in the winter, and practicing meditation.