Celebrating Leadership
We are excited to welcome Claudia Hofmann as the new Executive Director of Online and Executive Programs!聽
Professor Hofmann began her new role early in the summer. The announcement came on May 31, 2023, and was shared with faculty and staff in a message from SIS Associate Dean for Graduate Education Michael Schroeder:
"Professor Claudia Hofmann will serve as the first SIS Executive Director for Executive and Online Programs. She has deep experience and a strong track record in graduate program administration, online programs, and executive degree programs. She has directed the executive degree program since fall 2013. Her hallmark as MIS director has been developing and refining courses and programming to meet the needs of mid-career professionals. Professor Hofmann also oversaw the launch of the online version of the program, developed a multi-module bootcamp to help students prepare to return to school after years in the workforce, and helped lead the launch an international partnership track of the degree program that has been a vehicle to bring students from abroad into our classrooms. She has also strengthened our relationships in DC by building ties and hosting events with government agencies and embassies. In short, she has done much for us, and I look forward to seeing what she achieves in this new role.鈥澛
Schroeder also thanked SIS professor Tamar Gutner, former director of MAIR and faculty advisor for online programs, "for her leadership in running the program, enhancing the curriculum, and championing students and faculty.鈥 Professor Gutner developed and refined online courses and program administration, and she helped strategize about how to ensure the programs continued to thrive. Schroeder stated that, 鈥淕utner championed her vision of 鈥極ne SIS,鈥 and she worked tirelessly to better integrate online students and faculty into the SIS community. She also helped show us that we could take advantage of what we learned in the pandemic by successfully offering the first 鈥榣ive online鈥 full-sync MAIR courses on topics such as human rights and various regional offerings. These courses were well received and a creative way to expand online course offerings and meet student needs.鈥 Gutner will continue to teach as part of SIS Faculty and the MAIR program and will be working on multiple research projects.
Hofmann has had a versatile function as director of MIS over the last 10 years and is excited to begin this new role which brings both executive and online programs under her direction: "Embarking on this new journey as the Executive Director of Online and Executive Programs fills me with excitement and purpose. Just as our programs have empowered students to reach new heights, I am committed to fostering a dynamic community where both current and former students thrive."
Hofmann will continue to teach the Practicum in International Affairs: Foreign Policy Making, Defense, and Intelligence in the Arctic and聽the Proseminar in International Affairs.
A main goal for Hofmann is fostering a sense of community among current students and alumni and creating avenues of collaboration among them, "weaving our stories together, rekindling connections, and charting a future brimming with shared successes among our students and alumni will strengthen us as a community."
Hofmann concluded, "your feedback is our compass, guiding us towards even greater excellence. Here's to embracing the past, celebrating the present, and co-creating a future that echoes with the achievements of each remarkable individual who has walked through our doors."
We extend a warm welcome to Professor Claudia Hofmann!