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LER Alum Adam Taliaferro named to New Jersey State Assembly

LER Alum Adam Taliaferro named to New Jersey State Assembly

March 17, 2015

Adam Taliaferro,  the School’s 2014 Outstanding Alumni Lecturer and former Penn State football player, was chosen by New Jersey Democratic Party leaders to represent the state’s Third District in the State Assembly. Taliaferro was sworn in by State Senate President Steve Sweeney in January and quickly became the leading candidate for election to the position.

According to Sweeney, Adam was clearly the best candidate to the represent the district. He told nj.com, "I think Adam's really distinguished himself as an exceptional human being, and he's got some really amazing talents. After suffering the tragedy he suffered, he's shown how hard he's willing to fight to get to be where he wants to be. I think he's really done a good job, and I think he's a very genuine person."

Taliaferro suffered a severe spinal injury during a game in 2000 against Ohio State that left him paralyzed. While doctors gave him a three percent chance of regaining the ability to walk, Adam not only beat those odds, but went on to earn a LER degree from Penn State and a law degree from Rutgers, while ultimately starting a career working for global biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb as a patient advocate and lobbyist.

He then entered public service and was elected to the position of Gloucester County Freeholder before being named to the State Assembly.

In November, Taliaferro delivered the school’s 16th Annual Outstanding Alumni Lecture to a crowd of nearly 300 students, staff, alumni, and community members.