Alvina was born on August 4, 1954, at Jemez Pueblo, where she has been a lifelong resident. She is a member of the Jemez Sun Clan. She is the daughter of Nick and Felipita (Nonche) Yepa and the granddaughter of Frank and Louisa Fragua Toledo and Cristina and Juanita Fragua Yepa. Her siblings are Priscilla, Albert, Cristina, Jose, Lawrence, Salvadore, and Wallace Yepa. She has two sons (Gavin and Jordan) and three grandchildren (Marley and Kyrie Lujan and Javin Yepa).

Alvina was eight years old when she started helping her mother paint and polish pots and learned traditional pottery making from her mother. Her pots are made using the traditional coil method and are fired in the traditional manner using cedar wood. Her teardrop opening and her radiating feather motif incised on the upper body of a jar are her signature designs.

In 1986 Alvina began entering her work in the Southwestem Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Santa Fe Indian Market. Since then she has been the recipient of many prestigious awards. Her pottery has been exhibited by the Booth Western Art Museum and the Heard Museum. Publication of her work is included in, “Southern Pueblo Pottery”: 2000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf and “Pueblo and Navajo Contemporary Pottery” Second Edition by Berger & Schiffer.