Jay M. Bernhardt is the 13th president of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, a position he has held since 2023. Previously, he served as the dean of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was instrumental in establishing the Center for Health Communication. His extensive career includes roles at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A New Jersey native, he is actively engaged in numerous honor societies and holds positions on the boards of several prestigious organizations.

He has garnered recognition for his leadership and academic contributions, especially in health communication. He fervently advocates for mental health, supporting various charities and nonprofit organizations. He is also passionate about the arts, theater, and culinary exploration.

At Emerson College, which also includes California and Netherlands campuses, Bernhardt is committed to fostering an environment that promotes academic excellence and personal growth. He succeeded Bill Gilligan, who served as interim president since 2021.
Before his presidency at Emerson, he led the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, starting in March 2016. He also founded its Center for Health Communication and held professorships in the Department of Communication Studies and the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations.

In 2011, he founded Digital Health Impact, Inc. in Gainesville, Florida, focusing on consulting in digital health technologies and health communication. His leadership at the University of Florida was notable for developing focused academic programs and research initiatives in digital health.

He 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 achievements include receiving the John T. McGovern Health Communication Award and the Charles Atkin Outstanding Translational Health Communication Scholar Award.

Residing in Boston with his wife, Cassandra, Jay M. Bernhardt integrates his professional responsibilities with his interests in the arts and philanthropy, reflecting the values of Emerson College.