Alva is currently a data analyst on the Social Science Team specializing in statistical analyses of social science research such as interviewing and surveying, content analysis, and indicator design and calculation. She is involved in the Ecosystem Service Valuation portfolio and contributes to the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program.
Alva received her bachelors in Marine and Freshwater Science from the University of Texas at Austin, where she had first hand experience in managing research projects in topics such as freshwater inflow hydrology and Harmful Algal Blooms. She has worked for a number of state agencies on research project pertaining marine natural resource management. She received her masters degree in natural resources, with a thesis focused on studying bipartisan sponsorship of coral reef legislation in the U.S. Congress and contributed to other projects, such as the institutional design of International Dark Sky Parks, trust of COVID-19 information from agencies in the Southeast, and the coastal governance of vulnerable communities.