Hoffman attained his Ph.D. in chemical physics from Harvard University in 1987 and is a 20-year veteran of the education system. He began his tenure as a teacher in the sunshine state of Florida but migrated to Pennsylvania to begin teaching at Etown in 2002. He was appointed chair of the department, a position he held for six years, then went on sabbatical to focus on his research of molecular movement and its effects on physical properties. He currently teaches general chemistry, along with upper level chemistry classes.