“Professor Jim Hoefler is clearly one of the best elements of Dickinson’s policy-studies program. During my studies at Dickinson, he was perhaps the most engaging professor from whom I learned critical-thinking and debate skills. Hoefler presented policy problems that we were tasked with solving in a logical, practical way—he did not merely assign papers or homework, in the traditional sense. He also forced us to broaden our comfort zones, integrating groups of not-so-like-minded classmates. In every way possible, our policy-studies assignments were meant to mimic real-world situations. Beyond his pedagogical style, Hoefler took a sincere personal interest in each of his students, helping us to carve out our post-Dickinson life goals, compassionately sharing in our struggles and celebrating our triumphs with pride.
After graduating from Dickinson, I went on to earn a master’s in public policy from the University of Chicago. Professor Hoefler and the coursework I completed at Dickinson provided a solid basis of content knowledge, complemented by strong writing and outside-the-box thinking skills, on which I built a successful graduate experience. Today, I have focused my career in the non-profit sector, where I use my understanding of public-health-policy issues and ability to relate well with others in an advocacy role.”
Audrey Rose Eisenberg ’02, development officer, American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago |
