Alyss received a BA in Comparative Literature from Yale. She began her career as an intern for the Story Department for New Line Cinema, New York and later transferred to New Line's West Coast office. She left New Line to work as an assistant and Script Coordinator on the film MONEY TALKS, the debut film of director Brett Ratner. Afterward, Brett hired her to head up his new company, Rat Entertainment, based at New Line. For five years she acted as principal executive and producer at the company working on films like RUSH HOUR, FAMILY MAN, PAID IN FULL (Dimension/Miramax) and as an associate producer on DOUBLE TAKE (Disney). In 2001, she joined Paramount Pictures as a Vice President of Production, Worldwide. Writer Mollie Gregory featured Ms. Dixson in her book WOMEN WHO RUN THE SHOW (St. Martin's Press 2000). She was born and raised in Portland, Oregon.