This is the story of the executive director of the America-Italy Society of Philadelphia, whose name depends on the culture and law of where she is. “In Italy, I am Elisa Schwab. In the United States, I am Elisa Clewis, middle name Schwab. In Brazil, I am Elisa Caterina Schwab. In Switzerland, I am Elisa Clewis-Schwab,” she said. “But if I have to describe myself in one word, I say I am from Italy.”

Her parents are Swiss and Italian; she was born in Brazil; and she has lived in the U.S. since 2005. Her family moved to Italy when she was 6, and she grew up in Brescia, east of Milan. After graduating from the Università di Bologna, she earned a master of arts in cooperation and development at the Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori at the Università di Pavia.