Alissa Clarke graduated cum laude from Harvard in 2007, with a concentration in psychology and a certificate in global health and health policy. She most recently worked as a Human Rights Fellow for U.S. Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts in his district office, focusing on human rights and refugee policy.

Alissa has worked in health law as Special Assistant to a former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General, in emergency medicine research and in direct patient care at a leading psychiatric hospital. Ultimately, her work with torture survivors applying for asylum in the U.S. inspired her to pursue the law.