Andrew Pleasant, Ph.D.
Health Literacy and Research Director, Canyon Ranch Institute
Andrew Pleasant’s interest in communication, literacy, and social change started while working on his parents’ small-town weekly newspapers. That early inspiration underpins his ongoing professional practice and research in health literacy; science, risk, and environmental communication; and social marketing.
In May 2009, Andrew joined Canyon Ranch Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, as health literacy and communications director. In his present role, he serves as health literacy and research director. Canyon Ranch Institute catalyzes the possibility of optimal health for all people by translating the best practices of Canyon Ranch and our partners to help educate, inspire, and empower every person to prevent disease and choose a life of wellness.
Andrew is responsible for advancing the role of health literacy across Canyon Ranch Institute activities, including in current partnerships and programs, as well as in planning future activities. He also leads all research and evaluation activities at Canyon Ranch Institute, is the program manager for Canyon Ranch Institute’s partnership with Time to Talk CARDIO, and is engaged in developing new programs and partnerships.
Andrew has led and participated in hundreds of presentations and trainings in the United States and around the world, primarily on the topics of health literacy, and science, risk, and environmental communication. He has taught at Cornell University, Brown University, and Rutgers University. Andrew served as a temporary advisor at the World Health Organization Health InterNetwork in Geneva, Switzerland, where he reviewed and evaluated the long-term sustainability and local ownership of the Health InterNetwork India pilot project.
Andrew has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and technical reports, and is co-author of the book Advancing Health Literacy: A Framework for Understanding and Action (2006). He has served on several advisory board committees, including the Community Advisory Committee of Horizon NJ Health, New Jersey's largest healthcare management company; the newly-formed New Jersey health literacy coalition; the Mayibuye Wetlands Programme in Soweto, South Africa, and is a member of the scientific committee of the Public Communication of Science and Technology Network.
During Andrew’s earlier career as a journalist, he received numerous awards for his photojournalism and reporting on national and international topics. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arizona State University; a master’s degree in environmental studies from Brown University; and a doctorate in communication from Cornell University.