Jay M. Bernhardt Male • United States of America

Jay M. Bernhardt is currently serving as the 13th president of Emerson College, located in Boston, Massachusetts, a position he has held since 2023. Before taking up this prestigious role, he was the dean of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, where he founded the Center for Health Communication. His professional background includes significant roles at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A New Jersey native, he is deeply involved in numerous honor societies and serves on the boards of various high-profile organizations.

He has earned numerous accolades for his leadership and contributions to academia, particularly in health communication. He is also a passionate advocate for mental health, actively supporting various charities and nonprofit organizations. His interests include enjoying the arts and theater and exploring diverse culinary experiences.

At Emerson College, which also has California and the Netherlands campuses, Bernhardt is dedicated to providing exceptional leadership and nurturing an academic environment that promotes personal and professional growth. He succeeded Bill Gilligan, who served as the interim president since 2021.

Previously, he served as dean of the Moody College of Communication starting in March 2016. He has held professorships in the Department of Communication Studies and the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations, where he contributed significantly to the academic community.

In 2011, he founded Digital Health Impact, Inc. in Gainesville, Florida, specializing in consulting on digital health technologies and health communication. His leadership at the University of Florida was characterized by his development of digital health-focused academic programs and research initiatives.

Jay M. Bernhardt earned his Ph.D. in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds M.P.H. and B.A. degrees from Rutgers University. His distinguished career is marked by prestigious awards such as the John T. McGovern Health Communication Award and the Charles Atkin Outstanding Translational Health Communication Scholar Award.

Residing in Boston with his wife, Cassandra, he continues to integrate his passion for the arts and philanthropy with his professional responsibilities, embodying the values he champions at Emerson College.