Allison graduated from the University of Rochester with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. During her time at Rochester she was a member and starter of the varsity field hockey team and participated in the NCAA tournament. She then completed a year of graduate work at the University of Notre Dame as a Ph.D Candidate in Mechanical Engineering. Allison worked for three summers as a mechanical engineering intern for Green Mountain Power doing maintenance on both wind turbines and hydroelectric sites. Her interests include snowboarding, playing and coaching field hockey, water sports, and golf.