In her nearly 13-year career as a freelance journalist, she has written for 30-plus print and online publications including MSP Magazine, Minnesota Monthly, Star Tribune, Crain's, Experience Life, Artful Living, Utne Reader, and Mnopedia. Prior to launching her freelance business in 2009, she was an associate editor at Midwest Home magazine. 

Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree with Latin honors from the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. The "J-School" is the world’s first journalism school (first degrees awarded 1909) and is still one of the most renowned. While in school, one of her long-form articles was given special distinction at the Hearst Foundation Awards for exceptional sensitivity in writing. 

She is a long-time supporter of the International Women’s Media Foundation, a voting member of Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) and a past president of the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). 

She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and college sweetheart, Chris, and their two rescue cats, Pojke and Ollie. She enjoys listening to history podcasts, watching documentaries and completely converting her lawn into a clover-and-wildflower paradise for pollinators. She volunteers with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville, Minnesota, and with Minneapolis’ anti-litter Adopt-a-Block program.