Elisa Schwab Clewis

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Elisa Schwab Clewis grew up in Brescia and graduated from the Università di Bologna. She then earned a MA in Cooperation and Development at the Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori at the Università di Pavia.

Since 2006 Elisa has been living in Philadelphia where she worked in the non-profit world and in higher education, gaining over fifteen years of experience teaching Italian culture and language. Elisa created the first-ever Study Abroad Program to Italy offered at Gwynedd Mercy University, and she later taught and ran the Italian program at Arcadia University. In her early career, she was the International Programs Director at BuildaBridge, an art-based intervention and educational organization based in Philadelphia.

Elisa is passionate about fostering international cooperation and cultural exchange between Italy and the US. Her career has been marked by a commitment to academic excellence, program development, and innovative leadership in both educational and non-profit sectors. As the Executive Director Elisa is eager to continue AIS-Phila’s mission of promoting friendship between Italy and AIS-Phila’s community and beyond.