UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
University Advancement
Mary Ella Jerome Story
Supporting annual scholarships for music, education and agriculture.
At first sight, Mary Ella Jerome (’74) exudes the presence of a wise, strong woman with a crescendo of convictions, talents and gifts.
Now it’s time for a reprise.
She’s making it possible for five UW-River Falls students each year to receive music, agriculture, or education scholarships in honor of her family and the strong women who have attended the university.
As one of five children of the late Wallace and Marion Jerome — founders of Jerome Foods, an international company that put turkey on dinner tables for more than just Thanksgiving — Mary Ella’s Midwestern upbringing and family roots have shaped her unpretentious philosophies and philanthropy.
“God gives you gifts and you need to use them,” Jerome said. “It could be the gift of music or teaching. I’m in a position now to have financial gifts. When I taught high school, nothing disappointed me more than to see students who had gifts but didn’t use them.”
Jerome says her family and UWRF are forever connected.
“The history of my family is the history of UW-River Falls,” she said. “My mother was the first in the family to attend River Falls State Teachers College.”
Mother Marion was one of the most important figures in her life, Jerome said.
“She was beautiful and intelligent, but she didn’t flaunt it. She was my best friend. She was my dad’s confidante, very smart in the business and about people.”
Her family has close ties with the university, so close that Jerome said it feels like it's a part of her family.
“Those people were very special in my life,” she said. “When I was on campus, everybody knew everybody. It’s really important to come back and express appreciation to those who helped you.”
When she was younger, Jerome made a list of things she'd do, if she ever had the means. She recently found the list and has begun checking things off it.
"The way we were raised is that you give back to your church, community, schools and university," she said. "You aren’t just a taker, and you don’t expect something for what you do all the time.”
Mary Ella Jerome, '74
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