Tiffany Rolfe honored as the third “Ad Legend” in CCPS Series at the Advertising Club of New York

Tiffany Rolfe, Chair and Global Chief Creative Officer at R/GA, was honored as the third inductee in  The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies (CCPS)’s “Ad Legend Series,” a prestigious speaker series that celebrates trailblazers in the advertising industry. The event was held at The Advertising Club of New York on Thursday, April 3, 2025, drawing an enthusiastic audience of St. John’s University students, faculty, alumni, and industry professionals.

The Ad Legend Series, launched in 2023, is part of CCPS’s commitment to bridging classroom learning with real-world experience by spotlighting figures whose creative leadership has shaped the advertising landscape. Previous honorees have included icons from major agencies, and this year’s selection of Ms. Rolfe underscored the college’s emphasis on innovation, inclusivity, and digital transformation.

Tiffany Rolfe has earned widespread acclaim for her groundbreaking work at R/GA, where she leads creative vision across the agency’s global offices. Under her direction, the company has produced award-winning campaigns that merge design, storytelling, and technology for clients including Nike, Verizon, and Google. Her work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, The One Show, and the Clio Awards. She was recently named to Ad Age’s “Women to Watch” list.

Rolfe is also known for championing diversity and purpose-driven storytelling in advertising.

“We build opportunities for students to have hands on experiences because if they postpone that until after they graduate, it’s not going to serve them,” said Luca Iandoli, Ph.D., Dean and Distinguished Chair of the Collins College of Professional Studies. “One way to do that is to learn from the masters—you look at what they do, you imitate what they do, and you do your best.”

The event was held in partnership with The Advertising Club of New York, a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing diversity and innovation in the marketing and communications industry. 

Gina Grillo ’86C, CEO of The Advertising Club and a member of the CCPS Dean’s Board of Advisors, was instrumental in hosting the event. “We want students to feel at home in this city, in this industry,” said Ms. Grillo. “Being here in New York, the media capital of the world, puts them at the center of where the conversation is happening.”

The event was generously sponsored by Nancy Deckinger, Executive Director of the Dr. E. Lawrence Deckinger Family Foundation, which supports initiatives that blend academic excellence with career readiness. 
Ms. Deckinger used the occasion to announce a new $5,000 scholarship to support a student pursuing a summer internship at R/GA.

“My parents endowed the advertising research center, so I wanted to continue their legacy,” she said. “I’m particularly interested in sponsoring internships so kids can get jobs. Education is lovely, but it would help if education led to gainful employment.”

Following a lively networking session, the evening’s main program featured a dynamic panel discussion with Ms. Rolfe and Rick Boyko, former Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy North America and the visionary behind The Inspiration Series.

First, attendees watched a short documentary produced by Boyko for The Advertising Club. The video provided a chronological report of Rolfe’s career leading up to R/GA.

After moving to Hollywood and realizing she’s happier behind the camera than in front of it, Rolfe started her journey as an office assistant at an Internet start-up. She taught herself design.

One of her first projects was to help design the Walt Disney website. Alongside her team, she worked on the A Bug’s Life website, a project Steve Jobs was also a part of.

After taking on the role, she decided to enhance her skills, so she enrolled at the Art Center College of Design, 
where she found her way to Crispin Porter + Bogusky. There, she worked on several campaigns, including for MiniUSA and Truth, an anti-smoking initiative.

She realized she wanted to grow, so she joined a consulting company called Co: Collective after staying at Crispin for nine years. There, she became involved with YouTube’s first global campaign, introducing the world to the YouTuber for the first time.

After viewing the short film, attendees listened to a one-on-one between Rolfe and Boyko. The panel touched on critical industry topics such as the rise of artificial intelligence, evolving pathways into the industry, managing creative teams, and the personal challenges of balancing leadership with family responsibilities.

“For me, creativity was always intersecting with new technology,” Rolfe said, explaining that she tends to lean positively when adapting to new advancements and is hopeful of what artificial intelligence can bring, despite its challenges. “I started as a web designer and got into social platforms with YouTube. "There’s this whole new potential of what you can do when new technology comes out, Rolfe said, What can we do that couldn’t be done before?”

“It was an interesting discussion,” said Elizabeth Ponce De Leon, a first-year graduate student enrolled in the Integrated Advertising Communications program and Assistant Director of Culture and Identity at the Office of Multicultural Affairs. 
“I also wanted to visit the space I’m in right now and connect with other individuals in the same field.”

There’s nothing more energizing than seeing great creative work and hearing the behind-the-scenes stories of how that work was inspired,” said Neil Feinstein, a professor and Program Director of the MS Integrated Advertising Program. 
“Every word that Tiffany said, every campaign sample she showed, gave our students a sense of thrill that comes from creating great advertising.”

Maxine Babb, MS Integrated Advertising Communications student, asked Rolfe, “Seeing that your career has taken so many different paths, what advice would you give a young woman, like myself, who has so much pressure to make the 'right' choices in her career?"

Rolfe explained that when she launched her career, she decided to take a job that paid less, but valued her creativity and skills more. That decision led her to an even better opportunity at RG/A, where she is now.

"That answer gave me so much insight on understanding that success doesn't always depend on working at the biggest companies, the job title, or even the salary,” Babb said. “It's about the impact you've made in whatever position you are in."

Miriam Prever, a doctoral student in Multi-Sector Communication, and professor in the Advertising Communications and Public Relations major, explained that Rolfe’s career trajectory inspired her, "What inspired me most from Tiffany Rolfe was her reminder that success isn’t a straight line. The path is often squiggly, full of twists and turns, and that’s not just okay—it’s powerful.”

"What I’ll take away most is the idea that creativity must be backed by purpose and consistency. It made me reflect on how I want to shape my own path—not just with ambition, but with intention." said Hugo Favret, an exchange student from France who attended the event.

The Ad Legend Series continues to grow in stature as it brings leading creative professionals into direct conversation with students, reinforcing the mission of St. John’s University to provide transformative experiences that prepare students for meaningful careers.