Elena Casey

Elena Casey is an Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (College of Arts and Sciences, Languages Department). She serves as Program Advisor for the Spanish for Health Professions Minor, Affiliate of the Latin American & Latinx Studies Program, Advisory Board Member for the Health Humanities program, and Core Member of the Wisconsin Latinx History Collective. Her work bridges Spanish language, literature, and health sciences, emphasizing interdisciplinary research and community engagement.

• PhD in Romance Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2019)
• MA in Hispanic Studies, Middlebury College School in Madrid, Spain (2013)
• BA in Spanish & English, Messiah University (2012)

Dr. Casey’s research focuses on Spanish for Health Professions, Health Humanities, and Early Modern/Colonial Spanish Literature. She explores intersections of language, healthcare access, disability, and mental illness across historical and contemporary contexts, from early modern Spain and colonial Americas to modern Midwestern Hispanic and Latinx communities.

Her recent publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, combining literary analysis with health sciences and disability studies. Themes include historical epidemiology, patient advocacy during pandemics, and the role of language services in equitable healthcare. She trains students in oral history methods, translation, and community-based research through projects like Voces del Campo / Rural Voices.

Dr. Casey is actively involved in grants and collaborative research, including a UWEC–Mayo Clinic Health System project analyzing language services during the pandemic and a practicum with Communication Sciences and Disorders students. She advocates for equitable healthcare practices as a member of the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic’s Community Advisory Board and the Eau Claire City-County Health Department’s Community Health Equity workgroup.

She is a core member of the Wisconsin Latinx History Collective and previously co-led the Artes Latinas Cultural Arts Oral History Project. Her ongoing projects emphasize community engagement, linguistic equity, and the application of Spanish language skills in healthcare settings.