Headshot of Dr. Rebecca Hoffman.

Rebecca Hoffman
Professor

Biography

Dr. Rebecca L. Hoffman, DSW, LISW, is a Professor of Social Work at Bemidji State University (BSU) and serves as BSU’s Coordinator of Research, Experiential, and Applied Learning (REAL). Before joining the faculty at Bemidji State in 2014, she spent nearly two decades as a social work practitioner and nonprofit leader. Her professional practice focused on building community partnerships, developing programs, and advancing macro-level community and social policy initiatives, particularly in rural northern Minnesota.

At BSU, Dr. Hoffman’s teaching and scholarship emphasize student resilience, social-emotional learning (SEL), experiential education, and the development of supportive learning environments. She is a Co-Principal Investigator on a $2.5 million National Science Foundation S-STEM grant, an interdisciplinary collaboration supporting STEM students through scholarships, mentoring, experiential learning, and resilience-focused programming. This work includes the development and implementation of a Resilience-Focused Systemic Paradigm for Education, which integrates social-emotional learning and resilience-building strategies into the undergraduate STEM experience.

Dr. Hoffman is also a Co-Principal Investigator on BSU’s NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, an interdisciplinary initiative designed to recruit and prepare STEM majors and professionals to become highly qualified K–12 teachers in high-need rural schools. Her work within the project focuses on integrating social-emotional learning and resilience into the preparation and support of future STEM educators.

In her campus-wide role as Coordinator of Research, Experiential, and Applied Learning (REAL), Dr. Hoffman works to strengthen opportunities for students to connect classroom learning with research, experiential education, applied learning, and professional development. Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to creating educational experiences that help students develop the knowledge, relationships, resilience, and practical skills necessary to thrive beyond the classroom.

Dr. Hoffman also serves as Vice President of the National Association of Social Workers–Minnesota Chapter (NASW-MN) and is a Licensed Independent Social Worker through the Minnesota Board of Social Work.

Prior to entering higher education, Dr. Hoffman held leadership positions in nonprofit human services. As Executive Director of Ours to Serve House of Hospitality, she led a successful community campaign to develop Village of Hope, a shelter serving families experiencing homelessness in Bemidji. As Community Services Program Director at Evergreen Youth & Family Services, she spearheaded a partnership with a local developer to establish a transitional housing center with on-site supportive services for youth experiencing homelessness in rural northern Minnesota.

Dr. Hoffman has received several awards and honors recognizing her community and organizational leadership, including the Bemidji Leads! Organizational Stewardship Award, Ruth Edevold Organizational Excellence Award, and Eleanor Roosevelt Women for Responsive Government Award.

Dr. Hoffman earned her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from the University of St. Thomas–St. Catherine University, her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Bemidji State University.

She resides in Bemidji with her husband, Brodie, and is the mother of two adult children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, exploring Minnesota’s state parks and campgrounds, and mountain biking.

Degrees

  • Doctorate of Social Work, 2018, University of St. Catherine University – University of St. Thomas School of Social Work
  • Master of Science in Social Welfare, 1999, University of Wisconsin—Madison
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1997, Bemidji State University
    Minor: Women's Studies

Teaching

  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Intro to Social Welfare
  • Field Experience
  • Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (HBSE II)
  • Generalist Practice III
  • Internship (SWIM)

Research Interests

  • Macro social work education
  • Community Social Determinants of Health (CSDH)
  • Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
  • Macro social work practice