David Hoffman

Dr. David Hoffman is a Full Professor of Cultural Anthropology specializing in Environmental Anthropology at Mississippi State University's Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, housed within the College of Arts & Sciences. He serves as Director of the Office of Prestigious External Scholarships, overseeing prestigious scholarship programs like Fulbright and Boren. His research focuses on conservation policy, sustainable development, and the socio-environmental impacts of protected areas on communities in Central America and Mexico. Hoffman has held Fulbright fellowships in Mexico and Germany, and his work is supported by grants from NSF and NOAA.

Education: BA (Environmental Studies/Anthropology, St. Lawrence University), MA and PhD (Cultural Anthropology, University of Colorado-Boulder). Key research projects include co-management of Mexico’s Banco Chinchorro Reserve, Costa Rican park-adjacent migration patterns, and Alabama/Mississippi fisheries communication studies. Awards include the 2013 Faculty Teaching Award, 2016-17 Eminent Scholar title, and 2020 Outstanding Professor Award.

Under his leadership, MSU students secured scholarships like Rhodes, Marshall, and Udall. His research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, blending ecological and social sciences to address conservation challenges. Hoffman’s recent work critiques global conservation metrics and advocates community-centered strategies through citizen science and stakeholder engagement.