Blanca F. Alvarez was born in Havana, Cuba. She grew up in Miami, Florida. She earned her BA and MA degrees at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, and received her Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Alvarez teaches courses in French language, literature, and culture and humanities. She also teaches selected Spanish courses, and designed and teaches the interpreting courses for the Translation and Interpretation Certificate Program at Barry University.

Dr. Alvarez is the faculty sponsor of the Barry chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma, the National Foreign Language Honor Society.