61Jay M. Bernhardt is the 13th president of Emerson College, based in Boston, Massachusetts, having taken office in 2023. He formerly held the position of dean at the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was instrumental in founding the Center for Health Communication. His extensive professional journey includes vital roles at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Originating from New Jersey, he is actively engaged in several honor societies and holds positions on the boards of multiple distinguished organizations.
Recognized for his significant contributions to leadership and academia, he is also a staunch advocate for mental health, supporting various charitable and nonprofit organizations. He strongly appreciates the arts, theater, and culinary arts.
At Emerson College, which also has campuses in California and the Netherlands, Bernhardt is committed to leading with a vision supporting faculty and students' academic and personal growth. He took over the leadership role from Bill Gilligan, who served as interim president since 2021.
Before his tenure at Emerson, he started as dean of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin in March 2016. Before becoming dean, he was a professor with roles in the Department of Communication Studies and the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations. During this period, he also established the Center for Health Communication.
Furthermore, in 2011, he founded Digital Health Impact, Inc. in Gainesville, Florida, focusing his consultancy on digital health technologies and health communication. At the University of Florida, he was instrumental in developing digital health-focused educational programs and research initiatives.
Jay M. Bernhardt completed his Ph.D. in public health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and obtained his M.P.H. and B.A. degrees from Rutgers University. His numerous accolades include the John T. McGovern Health Communication Award and the Charles Atkin Outstanding Translational Health Communication Scholar Award.
Living in Boston with his wife, Cassandra, Bernhardt remains deeply committed to his professional responsibilities and personal interests in the arts and philanthropy, reflecting the values of Emerson College.