William D. Kernan, EdD, MPA, CHES

Director for Student Wellness

Bill founded the Center for Student Wellness at Columbia University Medical Center in the summer of 2002.   Bill has worked in college health promotion for over 10 years – prior to coming to CUMC, Bill was the Director of Health Education at Vassar College.  He spent a number of years living and working in Africa, first as a Child Survival Officer with the United States Peace Corps (in Malawi, East Africa) and later with the United Nation’s World Food Program (in Guinea, West Africa) where he worked as a Nutrition Monitoring Specialist in Liberian refugee camps.  Bill completed his doctoral studies at Columbia University’s Teachers College in health education with an emphasis in health psychology and now teaches as an Adjunct Professor within that department. Bill holds master’s degrees in health education and public health administration, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist.  Bill has received further specialized training in critical incident stress management and mindfulness-based stress reduction.