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Jay Bernhardt
Jay M. Bernhardt in blue blazer with Little Building, Colonial Building behind him.
Born1969 (age 54–55)
Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationRutgers University (BA, MPH)
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (PhD)

Jay M. Bernhardt (born 1969) is an American public health specialist and academic. Bernhardt has served as the president of Emerson College since June 2023. He was previously the dean of the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin from 2016 to 2023.

Early life and education

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Bernhardt was born in 1969 and grew up in East Brunswick, New Jersey.[1] He attended Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, where he earned a B.A. in sociology and minored in computer science. He earned a Master of Public Health (MPH)[2] degree from Rutgers and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Bernhardt earned his Ph.D. in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)[3] with an interdisciplinary focus on health communication.[4]

He's been inducted into honor societies including the Cap and Skull Society at Rutgers and the Order of the Grail-Valkyries at UNC, and received awards including the Everett M. Rogers Award for Excellence in Health Communication and the Jay S. Drotman Memorial Award from the American Public Health Association.[5]

Career

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Bernhardt began his academic career as an assistant professor in the School of Health and Human Performance at the University of Georgia in 1999 before joining the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in 2001. From 2005 to 2010, Bernhardt worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he directed the National Center for Health Marketing, overseeing and advancing the agency's communication, marketing, partnerships, and new media innovations.[6] In 2010, he joined the School of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida, where he served as department chair, professor and center director. He joined the University of Texas at Austin in July 2014 as professor in the Department of Communication Studies and the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relation.[7] Later, he helped establish the Center for Health Communication and served as its director.[8] In 2015, he was named as the interim dean of the Moody College of Communication.[9][10]

Bernhardt became the sixth dean of the Moody College of Communication on March 1, 2016.[11] Bernhardt's tenure has led to the development of many new programs including a four-year honors program,[12] B.A. degree in communication and leadership[13] and a “study away” program in New York City known as UTNY.[14] He increased graduate student funding and the four-year graduation rate to 80 percent, among the highest on campus.[15] He's recruited more than 50 new faculty members and established new research centers, institutes and programs.[16][17] He's also prioritized issues of diversity, equity and inclusion and established the college’s first associate dean position with this portfolio.[18]

The Jay M. Bernhardt Award for Staff Excellence at the University of Texas is named in his honor.[19]

In June 2021, Bernhardt became the thirteenth president of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, succeeding M. Lee Pelton.[20] He has appointed notable leaders during his administration, including Alexandra Socarides as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, and Matthew Boyce as Vice President of Enrollment Management.[21][22] After extensive negotiations, he successfully concluded a historic agreement with the Emerson College Full-time Faculty Union (ECCAAUP).[23] The agreement, effective from September 1, 2023, to the end of the 2028 academic year, features substantial salary increases aimed at enhancing faculty recruitment and retention.[23]

As the President of Emerson College, Bernhardt became the source of much controversy. On the day of his investiture ceremony, a protest for Palestinian liberation led to the arrest of 13 individuals, 12 of which were Emerson students.[24][25] Additionally, 11 of those arrested were people of color.[26] Tensions continued to rise, eventually culminating in the arrest of 118 students by the Boston Police Department on April 25, 2024.[27][28][29][30] The perceived lack of support and safety provided by Bernhardt was criticized heavily by students, leading to the Student Government Association calling for his resignation.[31][32] As of October 2024, he still acts as the President, even amidst continued criticism.[33][34]

Research

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His research is focused on digital health through the application of communication and technology to public health and healthcare. He was among the first to research wireless mobile technology for health-related data collection and personalized text messages, and the application of new and social media for health communication. His research has been funded by the National Institutes for Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the CDC, and other agencies and foundations.[35]

Selected publications

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Awards and recognition

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  • 2023: Robert C. Jeffrey College Benefactor Award[36]

References

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  1. ^ Clossey, Erin (January 12, 2023). "Meet Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt, Emerson's Next President". Emerson Today. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  2. ^ "Rutgers School of Public Health - Alumni". sph.rutgers.edu. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "HB alumnus named dean of communication at University of Texas". UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  4. ^ "Jay M. Bernhardt". commstudies.utexas.edu. January 11, 2017. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017.
  5. ^ "Previous Drotman Memorial Award winners". American Public Health Association.
  6. ^ "CDC's National Center for Health Marketing Forms Professional Advisory Group" (Press release). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  7. ^ https://thedailytexan.com/2015/04/24/professor-jay-bernhardt-named-interim-dean-of-moody-college/
  8. ^ https://thedailytexan.com/2015/04/24/professor-jay-bernhardt-named-interim-dean-of-moody-college/
  9. ^ "Moody College Welcomes New Interim Dean". Moody College of Communication. University of Texas (Press release). August 3, 2015.
  10. ^ https://thedailytexan.com/2015/04/24/professor-jay-bernhardt-named-interim-dean-of-moody-college/
  11. ^ "Jay Bernhardt Named Dean of the Moody College of Communication". University of Texas (Press release). February 22, 2016.
  12. ^ "High Honors". Moody College of Communication. University of Texas (Press release). August 2017.
  13. ^ "UT Austin Launches Communication and Leadership Undergraduate Degree". August 2, 2016.
  14. ^ "Announcing UTNY". September 24, 2018.
  15. ^ "Graduation Rates Show Continued Impact of UT Austin's Emphasis on Student Success". September 26, 2019.
  16. ^ "Welcoming New Moody Talent". Moody College of Communication. August 13, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  17. ^ "14 new, full-time faculty bring diverse talent". Moody College of Communication. University of Texas (Press release). August 29, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  18. ^ "Smith named first Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion". University of Texas (Press release). November 13, 2019.
  19. ^ https://moody.utexas.edu/about/awards/jay-m-bernhardt-award-staff-excellence
  20. ^ https://berkeleybeacon.com/jay-bernhardt-inaugurated-as-colleges-13th-president/
  21. ^ "Leadership Team Update: New Vice President of Enrollment Management". Emerson Today. May 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "Mizzou Associate Provost Alexandra Socarides Named Emerson Provost". Emerson Today. February 13, 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Joint Statement from the College and Faculty Union on Reaching an Agreement". Emerson Today. February 1, 2024.
  24. ^ "An Update on Today's Events". Emerson Today. March 22, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  25. ^ Stoico, Nick (March 23, 2024). "Protest outside Emerson president's inauguration results in 13 arrests, including a dozen students". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  26. ^ Spatz, Emily (March 24, 2024). "13 arrested outside Emerson College presidential inauguration while protesting school's stance on Israel-Hamas war". Boston.com. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  27. ^ Rojo, Carla (April 28, 2024). "Students vote no confidence in Emerson president following protest arrests". NBC Boston.
  28. ^ Reed, Matt (April 25, 2024). "108 arrested, 4 officers hurt as protest encampment cleared at Emerson". WCVB. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  29. ^ Emily Sweeney; Ava Berger; Maddie Khaw (April 25, 2024). "Boston police forcibly remove pro-Palestinian tent encampment at Emerson College; more than 100 arrested". The Boston Globe.
  30. ^ "Developing story: The latest on 2 Boylston Place 'Popular University Encampment'". The Berkeley Beacon. April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  31. ^ Reed, Matt (April 26, 2024). "Emerson student government calls for president to resign over response to encampment arrests". WCVB 5 ABC News.
  32. ^ Rojo, Carla (April 28, 2024). "Students vote no confidence in Emerson president following protest arrests". NBC Boston.
  33. ^ Struck, Doug; Navarro, Vinicius; Gianvito, John; Gibson, Nigel (October 17, 2024). "Letter: It's time for Jay to go". The Berkeley Beacon.
  34. ^ Burns, Hillary; McDonald, Danny (October 26, 2024). "In the wake of cuts, Emerson president's $5 million Ritz-Carlton condo draws criticism". The Boston Globe.
  35. ^ "Bernhardt" (PDF). commstudies.utexas.edu.
  36. ^ https://berkeleybeacon.com/president-bernhardt-receives-award-from-the-university-of-texas/
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Academic offices
Preceded by President of Emerson College
2023–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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