Silicon Valley Team Feature: Alica Martinez
by Jussara Oliveira Barbosa, MS in Project Management ’25
Alica Martinez’s evolution into becoming the Audiovisual (AV) Support Specialist at Northeastern’s Silicon Valley campus is anything but conventional. With a background in Fine Arts in Video and Animation from California State University, East Bay, her path weaves together creativity, technology, and an insatiable curiosity for problem-solving.
Alica’s role is AV-focused, but it extends far beyond that, encompassing IT, networking, and hardware maintenance. She works closely with faculty, staff, and students, ensuring they can use technology seamlessly while also managing large-scale infrastructure projects. As she explains in her own words, her aim is to “provide training and troubleshooting for a seamless learning experience” and “empower users with basic troubleshooting skills, ensuring they can navigate AV challenges even when immediate support isn’t available.”
Initially pursuing an art degree while exploring computer programming, Alica’s career trajectory took an unexpected turn towards IT. Her participation in the Year Up program in 2016 introduced her to the concept of being comfortable with discomfort, a philosophy that has since shaped her approach to personal and professional development.
Her passion for learning and adaptability has been a driving force since childhood. Her mother’s daycare business was based in the family home, so Alica was constantly surrounded by child development, art, and philosophy. She reflects, “Being around kids for so long definitely shaped me. I think that’s where my childlike curiosity comes from—I love asking questions, exploring new ideas, and seeing the world through a different lens.”
Originally set on a nursing career when she was in high school, Alica had a defining moment at Stanford’s anatomy lab. She recalls, “I realized I could handle things others might find unsettling, and that gave me the confidence to step into the unknown.” That mindset led her to explore different fields—first art, then programming, and eventually IT.
Her role at Northeastern is both challenging and deeply rewarding. One of the most demanding times of the year is graduation season, which she describes as requiring “a great deal of precision, coordination, and problem-solving.” Despite careful planning, unexpected challenges always arise. However, for Alica, seeing the students she supports daily “walk across the stage, filled with excitement for the future, is a powerful reminder of their hunger, resilience, and dedication.” As a fellow immigrant, she finds that “their determination and drive to carve out their future remind me of my own journey. It’s an everyday inspiration that fuels my commitment to making their experience on campus as smooth and enriching as possible.”
Alica’s role often intersects with broader IT operations, allowing her to engage in diverse projects that push her beyond her comfort zone. She thrives on this trial-and-error process which not only enhances her logistical skills but also deepens the technical knowledge and confidence.
Alica’s hunger for knowledge doesn’t stop at work. She’s currently diving into AI and computer networking, recognizing their impact on the future. She explains, “Networking is the backbone of the Internet of Things (IoT) and plays a crucial role in keeping everything connected and running smoothly. Like any field, understanding the fundamentals is key to building expertise, and because networking branches into so many areas of AV and IT, I have dedicated a significant amount of study time to it.”
In conversations with colleagues, she reflects on how “the internet has evolved from the 1990s to today, spanning over 30+ years. With the rise of generative AI, we’re witnessing a shift like the integration of the internet and the development of YouTube. AI has rapidly become mainstream, deeply embedded in both the workforce and personal projects, helping us become more efficient and innovative in ways we couldn’t have imagined even a few years ago.”
Outside of work, Alica finds joy in life’s quiet moments. She loves “taking time to reflect on the world around me—how people, places, and experiences shape the way we live.” Walks with her 10-year-old dog, Cleo, in quiet, remote areas give her space to unwind and enjoy “the stillness.” She has a fascination with abandoned places, sharing, “There’s something about stepping into forgotten spaces that makes history feel more tangible. It’s a reminder of how different life was in past eras, how we’re living now, and where we might be headed.”
She values the time spent with her sister and friends, who “teach me so much—about themselves, about life, and even about myself.” She’s also rediscovering her love for languages—Sign Language, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Japanese—and exploring the world of AV production, even teaching herself to play the theremin, “an instrument that’s both mesmerizing and incredibly challenging to master.”
Through every twist in her journey, Alica is driven by the belief that “there is always room to grow, improve, and push forward.” This mindset of continuous discovery fuels her passion and keeps her moving forward in both her professional and personal growth. Her story highlights the power of embracing diverse experiences and the rewards of maintaining a childlike sense of wonder in both personal and professional realms.