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In Alissa’s words…
I was born in Baltimore and have lived in Maryland for most of my life—except for a few years in the late 1990s when I lived around Dallas, Texas (Valley Ranch and Coppell). I graduated from Hereford High School in Parkton, Md. (Northern Baltimore County) and went on to study journalism at the University of Maryland. Many years later, I returned to UMD to complete my Executive MBA. I’ve now called Ellicott City home for more than 20 years.
I’m a third-generation Terp, part of a proud, extended family of University of Maryland alums. For those unfamiliar with Maryland lingo, “Terp” refers to the university’s terrapin mascot. I’ve collected turtle-themed items my whole life—jewelry, figurines, clothes—you name it. My kids have continued the legacy as fourth-generation Terps! You can read more about our family’s UMD connection in this fun article from the UMD Alumni Association.
When I’m not cheering for the Terps, I’m all-in on local sports: the Ravens, Orioles, Commanders, Nationals, Capitals, Mystics, Wizards, D.C. United, and even the Aberdeen Iron Birds. We run a family fantasy football league each year, which means we all keep a close eye on every NFL game. We’re also huge fans of the Olympics and international soccer.
My career started in journalism, specializing in advertising, so when the “World Wide Web” arrived during my college years in the ’90s, I was hooked. Creating websites combined everything I love—writing, design, tech, marketing, project management, and analytics. When Facebook and Twitter came along, I was an early adopter. I’ve always been drawn to the magic of building real connections online.
Photography is another lifelong love. I’ve got more than 100,000 photos and videos on my phone today, but my obsession started long before the iPhone era. In high school, I helped start the Photography Club and took photos for the yearbook using my dad’s 35mm camera. I’d get them developed at Ritz Camera with free double prints, eagerly watching them roll by on the conveyor belt, hoping some turned out. My love of photography comes from my parents and grandparents—we had home movies and slide shows at every family gathering. Those were the days.
Another favorite creative outlet of mine is video production. I’ve been making videos since I was a teenager—back when my sister and I filmed elaborate sketch comedies on VHS. We spoofed SNL and music videos, with characters like “Gertrude and Bertrude” and a very committed Elvis impersonation (complete with eyeliner sideburns and DIY bell bottoms). Later, in my professional life at UMD, I produced holiday videos that won multiple awards. I get completely lost in video editing—what feels like 30 minutes can easily become five hours.
Speaking of SNL—one of my dreams came true in May 2024 when I attended the dress rehearsal of Saturday Night Live with Jake Gyllenhaal as host and Sabrina Carpenter as the musical guest. I’d been entering the audience lottery for years and finally got the call just days before the show. The rehearsal was fantastic, and we even saw two hilarious skits that were cut from the live broadcast.
And now, in 2025, another dream is coming true: I’m publishing my first novel, Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland. I wrote it during the summer of 2023, capturing the spirit, emotion, and real-time moments of a post-pandemic summer. My hope is that someday it will be considered historical fiction!
Read more about my employment history.
Last updated, April 2025
AlissaArford.com 