Rutherford Resident Bernadette K. McPherson Completing Internship at La Salle University

Rutherford resident Bernadette K. McPherson is doing an internship at La Salle University’s Communications Department this fall. McPherson, an English Writing major, is in her senior year at La Salle, the same school where her parents met.

“When I was younger my mom (Bernadette P. McPherson, mayor of Rutherford) took my siblings and me to visit La Salle. I hardly remember the campus then, but I do remember how excited my mom was to show us La Salle.” Her father, David A., and mother are graduates of La Salle’s class of 1983. “Years later, when I began looking at colleges, my mom was just as excited to show me where she met dad,” she said.

Both parents went on to law school, a goal McPherson hopes to achieve next fall. Her father practices law at Waters, McPherson, McNeill, the largest law firm in Hudson County, which was started in 1962 by her grandfather, Kenneth D. McPherson, Sr.

“While at St. Mary’s High School, I never thought I’d want to be a lawyer. Both of my parents did that. It seemed boring to me,” she said. During the winter break of her sophomore year at La Salle, McPherson began working at her father’s firm. “I would type letters to clients and I became interested in what the attorneys were doing,” she says.

McPherson continued to do administrative work there between semesters. “I got many insights into different areas of law: environmental, tax appeal, asbestos, personal injury. I never realized how much goes into it. My favorite project was organizing the file on the new stadium for the NFL’s New York Giants. I got to work with my dad and really see what he does. We’re both big Giants fans, and being a Giants fan has been a little trying for me being in Philadelphia with the Eagles fans.”

In 1999, McPherson’s mother entered into politics, first as a Rutherford councilwoman, then as Mayor of Rutherford in 2003, and a Freeholder of Bergen County in 2002. She was defeated for a third term this month.

“Politics isn’t for me, but I did enjoy working on my mom’s campaign. I’m really proud of her,” said Bernadette McPherson.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at La Salle. I couldn’t have pictured myself anywhere else,” says McPherson. Along with attending law school, McPherson hopes to write fiction. “I love writing. I’ve kept a journal since the sixth grade and written a few short stories. Someday I hope to complete a novel,” she says.