Lizette Alvarez (born October 30, 1964) is an American journalist, and has worked for more than two decades with The New York Times. She has served as the Miami bureau chief since January 2011. Alvarez has been a reporter for the New York Daily News, and The Miami Herald. Alvarez was born in Miami, Florida October 30, 1964, the daughter of Cuban refugees. She graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. in 1986 and from Northwestern University with an M.S. degree in journalism in 1987. Alvarez is married to journalist Don Van Natta, Jr.; they have two daughters.