THE ROSE GARDEN at the entrance at the University of Mississippi is dedicated in honor of Ellen Robinson Rolfes. At the center is the sculpture entitled “The Mentor” depicting its vision.
Professional Chronology
Ellen Rolfes is an entrepreneur. In fact, alluding to herself in opening remarks for a large banquet crowd, she once gave this definition – “Entrepreneurs respect the system, but for some indefinable reason they are internally driven to follow a vision beyond the one recognized by the system. They just see things differently. They were those kids in kindergarten who colored ouside the lines. . .and thank goodness they did. The world is a better place because they had the imagination and courage to use those crayons to draw a different picture for everyone else.”
Through it all she has used her gift of “right brain thinking” to help institutions and individuals develop sustainable models that attract financial growth and lasting societal change. For over twenty years, her key constituencies have included academic and healthcare institutions, non- profits in social service and the arts, philanthropically-oriented corporations and individuals who have a sense of social responsibility. She believes people, in both their personal and professional lives, must put in more than they take out, and because we all are connected, she believes “paying it forward” impacts everyone. . . everywhere.
Ellen Rolfes has also been termed a “social architect,” a “visual patternist” and a “storyteller,” but it is the last label that most resonates with her. Ellen stated, “We are long remembered because of the truths that we reveal through our personal and collective stories. These tales are powerful carriers of our purpose, and to me, their embedded message is a sacred reflection of who we really are.”
The late Lilburne Vollmer, Ellen’s high school teacher, came to every book signing.
It is this vision, articulated through the power of stories, that has been the linchpin of Ellen’s distinguished career that encompasses trade publishing, public speaking, fundraising, consulting, seminar training and the impactful application of her ability to birth creative philanthropy initiatives in large institutional structures.
READER’S NOTE: On the following pages you will discover more information about her unique work. Just click the “hot links” on the side bar of this page to explore her specific focus areas and her professional accomplishments.