Skip to content

Header Menu 2

Header Actions Menu

Meet Jason

Dr. Jason Robertson

From Tobacco Fields to Health Leadership: Dr. Jason Robertson’s Journey of Education and Community Impact

Dr. Jason Robertson grew up on a 300-acre tobacco farm in Gretna, Virginia, and is a first generation college graduate. From the tobacco barn to teaching at Salem, Dr. Robertson is now an accomplished academic and health education expert with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Raised in a family where the value of education was deeply emphasized, he was encouraged by his parents — his father a high school graduate and his mother obtaining her GED when he was in 5th grade — to pursue higher education as a means to create opportunities beyond the rural life he knew.

Dr. Robertson’s research focuses on community-based approaches to mental health, suicide prevention, health equity for LGBTQIA+ populations, and the preparation of public health practitioners. His work aligns with Salem College’s commitment to developing leaders who are equipped to address the full spectrum of health, not just clinical care. The Health Leadership focus at Salem is empowering students to think holistically about health and its impact on communities, preparing them to tackle critical issues in innovative ways.

He has dedicated his career to improving public health education and has served as a health promotion practitioner at university wellness centers, where he worked in areas like sexual health, substance abuse, and mental health. For the past 16 years, he has been a faculty member and is currently an Associate Professor and Program Director for Public Health and Health Science at Salem College.

At Salem, Dr. Robertson teaches a variety of public health courses, such as Introduction to Public Health, Health Equity, Global Health, Epidemiology, and Mental Health Promotion. He is passionate about helping students see the broader context of health, encouraging them to think critically about its connections to housing, education, access to healthcare, and daily life. He loves watching students engage with complex issues and reach those “aha” moments, made possible due to Salem’s small class sizes that foster close student-faculty interactions.

Dr. Robertson’s extensive educational background includes a Doctor of Health Science from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Public Health from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a Master of Science in Biology and Emerging Infectious Disease from the University of Saint Joseph. He also received a degree as an Education Specialist in Higher Education Administration from Appalachian State University and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and Chemistry from Averett University. 

What drew him to Salem was the opportunity to create a new program with a focus on individualized mentorship and community impact. He values the nurturing, supportive environment at Salem, where students are encouraged to explore their passions and engage in meaningful dialogues with faculty and peers. Salem’s students stand out for their natural curiosity, compassion for others, and willingness to take on challenging topics with confidence and curiosity.

For Dr. Robertson, Salem is a special place where students are not only prepared for careers but are also given the tools to lead with empathy, critical thinking, and a deep commitment to improving health in their communities.

© Salem College 2024, All rights reserved.