Dr. Ellen, a 1977 William & Mary graduate alum, is an international photojournalist with major projects in South Africa, Namibia, Singapore, Australia, Suriname, Provence, Costa Rica, and Ecuador over the last decade.

She also specializes in historic Williamsburg imagery, Virginia flora and fauna, Virginia, Tennessee and Florida travel and conservation imagery, and photo-driven children's books. WILLI GETS A HISTORY LESSON is the first in a series of children's books planned.

You are welcome to visit her extensive online photo galleries and read her broad-based essays about life and photography.

Dr. Rudolph is well known in Virginia as an experienced Bowen family therapist, public speaker, and photojournalist. She was a member of the psychology faculty at Thomas Nelson Community College from 2000-2005, and in prior years served as adjunct faculty at the College of William & Mary, Old Dominion University, and in Eastern State Hospital's psychiatric residency program. In addition, she was a senior staff psychologist with the Colonial Community Mental Health Center in Williamsburg, a post which she held for many years.

Here is a sampling of some of Dr. Ellen's consultative experiences over the years: Author of many family studies publications from 1970-1998; appearances on network television and public radio; mental health columnist for various Virginia newspapers; workshop presenter and keynote speaker for local, state and national conferences and conventions in social work, psychology, counselor education, primary school education, higher education, nursing, emergency rescue services, medicine, and law; long-time systems consultant for hospital ER's and ICU's and local governments; psychology in the courtroom consultations to Virginia courts.

She is perhaps most well known for her 14 years as President of the Williamsburg Area S.P.C.A. where she spearheaded the establishment of a much-needed program of orphaned wildlife rehabilitation and rescue services, and raised public awareness about the welfare of all animals.

As an educator, Dr. Ellen is also known for her newspaper columns and essays. You can find some of these in her 'Essays on Photography' and 'Essays in Living' here.

Her interest in children's book comes from a life-time of environmental advocacy. A strong supporter of 'Wildlife Warrior' Steve Irwin, Dr. Ellen realizes that education is the key to our Planet's survival. She tries to help spread the word to children who, one day, will be in leadership positions that will affect the very future of our planet.

Besides, she says, kids are just plain fun to be around. Oh, and animals, too, of course!

Dr. Ellen is widely read in theoretical physics, conservation biology, and living systems theory. Besides physicist David Bohm, her personal mentors over the years have included physicist Fritjof Capra, biologist Paul Weiss, and Dr. Murray Bowen of the Georgetown Family Center, a pioneer in the study of the family.

Additionally, Dr. Ellen loves the BLUE PLANET series of educational DVDs; animals of every kind; the old TV classics Mash, The Beauty and the Beast (underground NYC), and McGiver; the music of Frenchman Joe Dassin; jazz pianists Bill Evans and Claude Bolling; floutist Jean-Pierre Rampal; and the voices of Judy Garland, Bette Midler, Luciano Pavarotti, John Denver, and so many more.

Life is good, she says!

Dr. Ellen is working now on a sequel to WILLI GETS A HISTORY LESSON. She has gotten approval from NASA Headquarters to do a new children's book, using the dog, WILLI, to teach children about the Kennedy Space Center and the future of space exploration.

Did you know? NASA will fly a nearly 400-year-old artifact unearthed at Jamestown, Va., the site of the first permanent English settlement in the Americas, into space aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis during the STS-117 mission.

Our heroine, WILLI, began her own journey at Jamestown. So stay tuned for some exciting adventures ahead when WILLI interfaces with the future of human exploration!

This new WILLI book is more than just a history book for children. It also offers a pictorial experience that helps make history come alive! More than 70 professional photo illustrations draw children into the scenes in a way that will make them remember it and savor those memories for years to come.

The book fits well with school history components about Virginia's Historic Triangle. Younger children will enjoy the photos and Willi's story of friendship with the wildlife of the Historic Triangle region; while older children can, with the help of the book's history notes, conduct some of their own research.

Under each historically significant photo plate there is an ID number in red which directs the reader to explanatory history and natural history notes on the above web site. These notes, which can be downloaded and printed, give the older child an opportunity to research information independently, and it puts explanatory information at teachers' or parents' fingertips.

The book commemorates the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, America's first permanent English settlement. It tells the story of a small dog who gets lost in Virginia's Historic Triangle – a region that includes Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown; historic sites connected by the Colonial Parkway and made famous by their role in American history.

The clearly written text accommodates a variety of reading levels as it subtly imparts a history lesson while entertaining readers. An underlying story of friendship knits the historic information together in a meaningful way while appealing photo illustrations, geared toward children's interests, help bring history alive.

But there's more! There is a Young Reader's Web Site filled with maps, puzzles, links, hints about traveling with dogs, coloring plates, even a section on how the book was made. This site also hosts WILLI's new BLOG! On the blog you will find photos of WILLI in 'real life' and behind the scenes. And even WILLI ALERTS where Willi talks to kids about things important to animals and their caretakers.

Teachers and parents will love the maps and regional links, and the host of Virginia web resources geared to young learners.


History is more than just about people

The natural history of Virginia's historic triangle has long been overlooked in regional books and textbooks.

To me, any history of this beautiful place should include information about its natural history, not just its human history. And that's just what the WILLI book does.

WILLI GETS A HISTORY LESSON teaches young readers about the Virginia wildlife that live in the region, especially along the beautiful Colonial Parkway that stretches for 21 miles between Jamestown and Yorktown. The natural history and historical information are woven together to help children understand the true significance of the region for history's sake, as well as for the Planet's sake.

Humans want to preserve things that they love. So I wrote the WILLI book in a way that captures a young reader's attention and imagination through the many animals that WILLI encounters along the way.

WILLI meets up with birds of many kinds, as well as Leicester Longhorn sheep, a Red Devon bull, squirrels, cottontail rabbits, Dog Doley,  Cat Justin, raccoons, fawns, butterflies, and even a red fox and an American Bald Eagle. And more! These animal characters all have their own unique personality and befriend WILLI  in her frantic search for her lost owner.

So enjoy your travels with WILLI! And share it with others!