Alexandra Fil is a reluctant Bay Area resident with strong ties to the Palouse. A recent graduate from the Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University, she holds a master's in communication, having studied how Hallmark movies can teach American audiences about environmentalism. She also holds a Master of Science in accountancy from San Jose State University, and a Bachelor of Science and bachelor’s in biology and anthropology from University of California San Diego. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on media literacy and science communication, with an emphasis on entertainment education, although in another life, she dreams of earning a doctorate by studying all things Christmas. On a personal note, her experience as a caretaker, first to her mother, then younger sister, and then Yaiyai, has profoundly impacted her life and perspectives on society and the human experience. Although raised Greek Orthodox, she personally identifies as a secular humanist.