Elena Ruehr (born 1963) is an American musician, music educator and composer.

Elena Ruehr was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as the daughter of a mathematician and an English professor. She grew up in Houghton, Michigan and began piano lessons at age four. She studied composition at the University of Michigan with William Bolcom and at The Juilliard School with Vincent Persichetti and Bernard Rands. She also studied dance and has performed with Javanese and West African ensembles. In 1992, Ruehr took a teaching position at MIT. Her compositions have been performed internationally and many have been recorded and are available on media. Many of Ruehr's compositions involve setting poetry to music.

Ruehr is married to Seward Rutkove and they have one daughter, Sophie.

Ruehr has composed works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, solo instruments and vocals.