“I originally went to Whittier to become a physical therapist,” she recalls. “I really love sports. I was going to major in kinesiology. The beauty of Whittier College — and the beauty of college in general — is that it’s a way to explore your own interests.
"Whittier College is special because it’s a liberal arts school. It’s integrated into the curriculum; you must take elective courses. And thank goodness for that!” Alcala chose Introduction to Environmental Science as an elective during her first year. By the end of the week, she knew she wanted to major in the subject, and to study with environmental science professor, Cinzia Fissore, as her advisor.
From there, her career in coffee sprouted—then flourished. After graduating from Whittier with a degree in environmental science, Alcala obtained a master’s degree from the University of Michigan in ecology and evolutionary biology frontiers and traveled to Panama to further study the coffee plant. This past summer, she was awarded the Specialty Coffee Association’s 2018 Re:co Symposium Fellowship and is the first-ever recipient of its Leadership Equality and Diversity Scholarship.
Now, Alcala works as a trader and sustainability liaison for a family-owned green coffee importer that acts as a matchmaker between coffee suppliers and roasters and retailers around the world. She has also taught as an adjunct professor at Whittier. She says what differentiates her company is that not only do they buy and sell green coffee, but they forge lasting relationships with coffee suppliers and use those ties to build a sustainable coffee supply chain.
Parts of this article originally appeared in The Rock magazine. Read the full story.
