Jay M. Bernhardt stands as the distinguished 13th president of Emerson College, located in the vibrant city of Boston, Massachusetts. His journey to this prestigious position included a notable tenure as dean at the University. Of Texas at Austin's Moody College of Communication, where he also founded the Center for Health Communication. His academic and professional roots extend to significant roles at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reflecting his deep involvement in health communication.
Bernhardt, originally from New Jersey, is an esteemed member of several honor societies and actively contributes to various high-profile boards. His career has been decorated with numerous awards recognizing his leadership and scholarly contributions. As a passionate advocate for mental health, he supports a broad spectrum of charities and nonprofit initiatives. His interests include the arts, theater, and exploring diverse culinary worlds.
At Emerson College, Bernhardt steers the institution with a focus on nurturing faculty and student success. Since taking office in 2023, his leadership has been instrumental in promoting academic excellence across Emerson's campuses in Boston, California, and the Netherlands. His predecessor, Bill Gilligan, served as interim president until Bernhardt's appointment.
Prior to his current role, Bernhardt shaped future communication leaders as the dean of Moody College of Communication, starting in March 2016. His leadership at the University of Texas was preceded by his roles as interim dean and professor, specializing in Communication Studies and maintaining a secondary role in the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations.
The thirteenth president of Boston, Massachusetts' Emerson College, is Jay Bernhardt. After serving as the dean of the Moody Institution of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin since March 2016, Bernhardt began teaching at the institution located in the most eastern part of Massachusetts in 2023. The Massachusetts-based Emerson College maintains campuses in the Netherlands and California.
From its Boston site, Bernhardt is dedicated to providing the educators and students at the school with consistent, compassionate leadership and guidance. Bill Gilligan, the acting principal, relinquished his position as the school's thirteenth president to the renowned health communication researcher. Since 2021, Gilligan has held the position of temporary president of Emerson College.
Digital Health Impact, Inc. was established in 2011 by Jay Bernhardt in Gainesville, Florida. In his capacity as the creator and president of Digital Health Impact, he oversaw activities devoted to providing consultancy on a broad range of scientific and strategic applications and advances.
In 1993 and 1994, Bernhardt also studied for an entire year at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where he was elected president of the student government organization. His M.P.H. and B.A. in sociology and health education, respectively, are from Rutgers University.
Jay M. Bernhardt is a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and works there. He lives in Boston contentedly with his spouse, Cassandra. The renowned educator and mental health champion is also a devoted supporter of many vital charities, nonprofits, and other worthwhile causes. She is an avid philanthropist.
Away from his career and charitable endeavors, he likes traveling, traveling to new places, and experiencing new cuisines and the arts. He and his spouse also enjoy spending time in Massachusetts and other areas with their family and close friends.
Certifications
Multi-Award-Winning Educator, Professor, Researcher, and Board Director
Born in New Jersey, Jay Bernhardt is a board director, researcher, scholar, and educator who has won several awards. Throughout his career, Bernhardt received several prominent professional honors, including the following:
The John T. McGovern Award for Health Communication, the Charles Atkin Outstanding Scholar Award for Translational Health Communication, The Everett M. Rogers Award for Health Communication Excellence, the American Public Health Association Leadership Award for Excellence in Jay S. Drotman Memorial Creative Leadership Award.
Bernhardt is also the recipient of a national award called the Bernhardt Student Leadership Award for Excellence. Through its health informatics and information technology department, the American Public Health Association, which was founded in 2011, gives the Bernhardt Student Leadership Award for Excellence every year.