Bernadette McPherson

Bernadette McPherson 

Age: 51

Place of birth: Philadelphia, PA.

Where you live: Rutherford, NJ.

Job Description: Adjunct Assistant Professor Law and Police Science Department John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Why I chose this career: I was inspired by those in the law enforcement and first responder community that I had the privilege of serving with as Mayor of Rutherford and Bergen County Freeholder Chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee.

The proudest moment of my career: Being nominated for this award.

I celebrate my Irish heritage by: Remembering that my father’s parents came to this country from County Mayo with no more than their faith and their family. It was always what was most important my Dad and what he instilled in us. When he died at 42 leaving my mother with four young children to raise it sustained us. I celebrate my Irish heritage by striving to carry on his legacy through that same strong sense of faith and family in my own four children.

Biography

Bernadette Prendergast McPherson, Esq. was born in Philadelphia, PA. She was awarded a B.A. in Political Science and English Magna Cum Laude in 1979 and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1986. In her first run for office in 1999 she was elected to the Rutherford Borough Council where she served as the first female Fire Department Liaison. She served as Rutherford’s Mayor from 2000-2007 and as Bergen County Freeholder from 2003-2011 and as chair from 2004-2005. For most of her nine year term she served as Chair of the Law and Pubic Safety Committee. In 2011 she was given a new title, “Professor” when she began teaching at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Professor McPherson remains involved in government and politics having served as Congressman Bill Pascrell’s Bergen County Liaison in his upset primary victory in June and as his Director for Outreach and Operations in the general election this November for the Ninth Congressional District in New Jersey.