Maria Elena Echarri brings more than 25 years of experience in professional journalism and communication studies to her classes at Florida International University. As a scholar-practitioner, with great interest in interdisciplinary approaches, Elena is most interested in the relationships between communication contexts and cognitive science, such as how social and media communication may interact with one’s inner experience and intrapersonal communication. Elena holds a Master of Science in communication studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in cognitive science from the University of Connecticut where she focused on the relationship between language and cognition. Elena graduated from Emerson College in Boston with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism. 

Elena Echarri has been honored with journalism awards for her work as a reporter and anchor with ABC, CBS, and NBC stations in several regional television markets. Nationally, her reporting has aired on CNN, MSNBC, and the NBC News Channel feed service. Internationally, Elena Echarri's reporting has aired on television news stations in the Caribbean, Great Britain, and Australia. Additionally, Elena has worked as a producer for ESPN International. Some of her work in health communication has been as a producer of promotional videos and documentaries for health organizations, and as a reporter on health issues for television network affiliates and a regional New England newspaper. Elena began her career as an intern with the PBS station in Hartford, Connecticut. There, she helped with educational programming and documentaries.

Throughout the years, in her work with many media outlets, and in the many university classes she's taught, Elena's main motivation continues to be in serving as a collaborator and resource.