Alethea was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and earned her bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from the University of Southern California, where she also minored in the Dynamics of Early Childhood. During her undergraduate and postbaccalaureate training, she worked with Dr. Megan Herting to investigate the effects of air pollution on adolescent brain development. She also completed a summer internship at the National Institute of Mental Health with Dr. Ellen Leibenluft, where she examined the relationships among ADHD, irritability, and inhibitory control.

At PennLINC, Alethea is excited to study how environmental factors shape white matter development across infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Outside the lab, Alethea enjoys reading, taking reformer Pilates classes, and exploring new restaurants.