Jay M. Bernhardt is the 13th president of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, having taken up his role in 2023. Before this, he was the dean of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, where he also established the Center for Health Communication. His career extends to significant roles at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A native of New Jersey, he actively participates in various honor societies and serves on the boards of numerous prestigious organizations.
Recognized for his leadership and scholarly contributions, particularly in health communication, he is a dedicated advocate for mental health, supporting various charities and nonprofit organizations. He also profoundly appreciates the arts, theater, and culinary exploration.
In his current position at Emerson College, which maintains additional campuses in California and the Netherlands, Bernhardt is committed to leading with a vision that enhances the institution’s academic prestige and fosters personal growth. He took over from Bill Gilligan, who served as interim president since 2021.
Before his tenure at Emerson, he led the Moody College of Communication, which began in March 2016, and was the founding director of its Center for Health Communication. His academic responsibilities included professorships in the Department of Communication Studies and the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations.
Moreover, in 2011, he founded Digital Health Impact, Inc. in Gainesville, Florida, focusing his expertise on consulting in digital health technologies and health communication. His tenure at the University of Florida was notable for his leadership in developing focused academic programs and research initiatives in digital health.
Jay M. Bernhardt obtained his Ph.D. in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his M.P.H. and B.A. degrees from Rutgers University. His accolades include prestigious awards such as the John T. McGovern Health Communication Award and the Charles Atkin Outstanding Translational Health Communication Scholar Award.
