Elena Broscritto is originally from Northern Italy and has lived and worked in Pavia (Italy), Ireland, Belgium, and Lithuania before making Illinois her home. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Studies in Education with a focus on international higher education and exchange programs.

Elena’s research currently examines study abroad programs in Italy, exploring the intersection of institutional (re)presentation of Italy during the pre-departure phase, the perspectives of study abroad practitioners, and students' perceptions of Italian culture. Elena is also interested in the relationship between language and identity in educational contexts, and has worked extensively on the use of gender-neutral language in Italian language textbooks.