E-mail: alyson.dalessandro@patch.com

Phone: 484-374-5769

Hometown: Clemson, South Carolina

Bio: I've worked in many fields in the years since I graduated from college with a psychology degree. I've done customer service, retail sales, and print publishing before picking up a career as a freelance writer in January 2011. 

I recently obtained a master's degree in publishing from Rosemont College. 

I have lived in the Limerick and Royersford areas since 1997, so I live and work here in the community just like the readers of this Patch.

Prior to moving here, I spent my high school and college years in Clemson, South Carolina. My family has deep roots in the South and even though we lived all over the country while my dad was in the U.S. Air Force, I consider myself a Southern girl at heart.

I am married to my husband of 15 years, and we have two cats, Vespa and Ginny, and a dog named Loki.

Even though I've now been in Pennsylvania 17 years, I still love everything Southern, especially sweet tea, fried chicken, and of course my Clemson Tigers. You'll probably find me often wearing my Clemson colors (orange and purple) during football season!

Journalism is a big step into a new career path for me, and I'm happy to be taking that step as your Patch editor. 

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for editors to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that their beliefs are on the record will cause them to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics

How would you describe your political beliefs?

I consider myself politically moderate. I fall along liberal lines when it comes to social issues, and conservative lines on financial and governmental issues. I am a registered Democrat currently because we have to register to vote in primaries. However, when the elections are open, I do my research carefully and choose who I think will be the best person for the job regardless of my personal party affiliation.

Religion

How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)

I was raised in a strictly Methodist family but have chosen to attend independent nondenominational churches as an adult. I consider myself Christian, but do not regularly attend church these days.