Elena Carbone, professor of nutrition in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences and associate dean for curriculum and academic oversight in the Commonwealth Honors College, has been elected to the position of vice president/president-elect of the International Health Literacy Association (IHLA).

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Carbone will serve a five-year term beginning in January 2026, first as vice president through December 2027 then as president through December 2030. After serving as president, Carbone will become a member of the IHLA Council of Past Presidents, which has a seat on the IHLA executive board.

In December, Carbone was elected vice president of the IHLA following an unexpected vacancy on the association’s executive board. 

“Dr. Carbone brings extensive expertise in health literacy research, education, and advocacy, and has been a dedicated contributor to our global mission of advancing health literacy across diverse communities,” the organization wrote in a statement. “Her leadership will strengthen IHLA’s efforts to foster collaboration, build capacity, and promote equitable access to health information worldwide. We look forward to working with Dr. Carbone as she helps guide IHLA into the next phase of growth and impact.”

Founded in 2016, IHLA is a non-profit, member-based association dedicated to the professional development of its members and the health literacy field. It is committed to creating an international voice for health literacy and raising awareness worldwide.

“I have been part of IHLA since its inception,” Carbone says. “I’m deeply honored to serve as its vice president and president-elect. I look forward to deepening IHLA’s partnerships with health literacy researchers, practitioners, and advocates from around the world to promote health literacy for all.”

Carbone works in community settings to examine how low income, culturally diverse populations with limited literacy skills attend to, process and use health information. Her mixed methods research engages communities and integrates behavioral interventions to promote health and prevent chronic disease complications. She is currently involved in ongoing research collaborations with colleagues in Canada and Ghana.