Allison Hoffman

Allison B. Hoffman is a Senior Lecturer in the Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). She holds a Ph.D. and B.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University at Albany, SUNY. Before joining academia, she spent 20 years in industry as a consultant, specializing in talent assessment, training, and executive coaching. At RPI since 2008 (initially as an Adjunct Professor), she teaches courses like Professional Development: Tech Issues & Solutions and Well-Being: Cultivating Curiosity, serving as Course Coordinator for the former.

Her research focuses on pedagogical innovations, engineering ethics, student engagement, and gameful learning. She became a Pedagogical Innovation Fellow in 2024, reflecting her commitment to integrating cutting-edge teaching methods. Her philosophy emphasizes experiential learning, interactive discussions, and fostering critical thinking across diverse learning styles.

Dr. Hoffman’s career bridges academia and industry, combining psychological expertise with engineering education. She actively explores trends in educational technology and ethics to enhance student outcomes.