Alcia’s Biography

Born in the 70s and growing up as a young girl in Jamaica, Alcia didn’t have access to a computer. The nearest thing to a computer within her experience was watching Star Trek and seeing Data on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. As Alcia reflects on her very accidental introduction to computers and computer science, she sees how small moments can make a big impact on one’s life journey.

Alcia had wanted to be a doctor for as long as she could remember. That dream ended when, as a student in natural sciences at the University of the West Indies, she was called into a meeting with the head of the faculty. Apparently, she had been identified as a fire risk in the biochemistry labs due to her violent sneezing and epic seasonal allergies. Alcia is, to this day, known for her comedy sneezes. It’s funny now, but back then, she was devastated.

Her head of faculty suggested she try computer science, as the labs were air-conditioned and the air was filtered. He was right—her allergies settled down, and she spent most of her time in the labs, eventually working as a lab technician. Alcia turned out to be good at computer science. The logic and structure of it suited her process-driven mind, and she had found her field.

The journey has not been without obstacles, challenges, and run-ins with people who didn’t wish her success. Through it all, Alcia learned that perseverance and tenacity are key traits to develop. She did a lot of work on her mindset and read books like The Chimp Paradox to help her cultivate a positive attitude. Alcia values teamwork and collaboration and believes society is better when good people come together in community.