Biography of Jay M. Bernhardt, PhD, MPH, the College’s 13th President
Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt serves as the 13th president of Emerson College, an extraordinary institution of higher learning dedicated to the study and advancement of communication, media, and the arts. An accomplished and visionary leader, scholar, and public servant, Dr. Bernhardt brings extensive experience in executive administration, scholarship, and strategic communication to the role, coupled with a steadfast commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and inclusion.
Prior to his appointment at Emerson in June 2023, Dr. Bernhardt served as dean of the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin, where he established innovative academic programs, expanded interdisciplinary teaching and research, strengthened student outcomes, and significantly elevated the college’s national and international profile. Earlier in his career, he held faculty and leadership positions at Emory University, the University of Florida, and the University of Georgia. He also served as the Director of the National Center for Health Marketing at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he led national and global programs and initiatives to advance public health communication, marketing, media, and partnerships.
At Emerson, Dr. Bernhardt led the development and is guiding the implementation of Extraordinary Emerson 2030, a strategic plan designed to position the College as a global leader in media, the arts, and communication, while advancing institutional sustainability, impact, and innovation. He is widely recognized for his transformational and collaborative leadership, strategic vision, and ability to navigate complex challenges while fostering innovation and engagement across diverse constituencies.
An internationally respected scholar and leader, Dr. Bernhardt has published extensively on health communication, media, and technology, and has received many awards and honors for his contributions to higher education, public health, and strategic communication.
Dr. Bernhardt earned his PhD in public health with a concentration in health communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Master’s of Public Health and Bachelor’s of Arts degrees from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.