Jay Bernhardt

Background

About Jay Bernhardt

Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt became the 13th President of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 1, 2023. Prior to his appointment as President of Emerson College, Dr. Bernhardt served as Dean of the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin (UT) since March 2016. In addition, he was the Founding Director of the Center for Health Communication at UT. His research is focused on health communication. Dr. Bernhardt previously served as Professor and Founding Director of the Center for Digital Health and Wellness, and Chair of the Department of Health Education and Behavior, at the University of Florida. Earlier in his career, he served on the faculty at Emory University and the University of Georgia. From 2005-2010, Dr. Bernhardt served as the Director of the National Center for Health Marketing at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overseeing CDC's work in health communication, marketing, new media, and partnerships. Dr. Bernhardt serves on numerous boards of directors, is a member of six honor societies and four editorial boards, and has received numerous awards for his work and leadership. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his M.P.H. and B.A. degrees from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.