Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul is a trailblazer in New Jersey Legislature; she is the first out lesbian Assembly woman. At 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, in Navesink I in the Student Life Center, Peterpaul will share her story and journey to leadership.
Peterpaul will be leading a Q&A about her efforts to advance anti-bullying legislation. She will also discuss why and how students can further their civic engagement. Peterpaul will also be highlighting how she incorporates equity and social justice in her community engagement and leadership.
This event is co-sponsored by the WILL Academic Program, WILL student organization and the Caroline Huber Wellness Center.
“It’s an honor to have ASW Luanna Peterpaul come speak at our event. It’s important to have conversations with people who make history and learn about their journeys. This way we can become inspired and continue following an intersectional framework in our respective fields,” said WILL member Nidia Jimenez-Barrios who helped curate the event.
Brianna Dudley, a WILL member who also helped curate the event, expressed why it’s important for students to come. “Being that most of us are so young and don’t know how to make systematic change, events like these help us realize our capacity to make change in our communities.”
Peterpaul is an avid supporter of equal rights and anti-bullying movements. She was instrumental in bringing marriage equality to New Jersey through her role on the Board of Directors of Garden State Equality. Peterpaul has also played a key role in creating and promoting anti-bullying legislature in New Jersey.
Peterpaul has experience as a distinguished judge in the Asbury Park Municipal Court and is a managing partner at Peterpaul Law also located in Asbury Park.
Peterpaul has received plenty of recognition for her work as a lawyer such as being selected as a N.J. Super Lawyer, being a top-rated attorney recognized by Martindale-Hubbell, and was named by the New Jersey Law Journal List as one of the Diverse Attorneys of the Year in 2015.
Peterpaul has also used education as a way to promote and educate about equality; she has lectured at various institutions such as Rutgers University, the New Jersey Judicial College and Kean University. Peterpaul was born in Newark and has been a long time resident of Monmouth County.