Hoffman, 42, brings to the position his experience as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden, as vice president for external affairs for the RAND Corp., as a federal prosecutor, and as a staff member in the White House and two federal agencies. As senior vice president at UC, he will report directly to the president and will have responsibility at the system office for communications, advocacy, and governmental relations at the state and federal levels.
"We are extraordinarily fortunate to have secured Alan Hoffman's leadership for the external relations activities of the UC system," Yudof said. "One of the goals I have established as president is a reinvigorated external relations program that strengthens the university's relationships and educates all Californians about the importance of the university's work to their families and to the future of the state. Alan's strategic vision, sound judgment, high standards and good humor suit him very well for the responsibilities awaiting him in the UC system."
The senior vice president position establishes strategy and oversees coordination with campuses in the implementation of communications, advocacy and governmental relations activities for the UC system, with the goal of building understanding and support for the university's mission of teaching, research and public service.
"I am honored to join one of the world's leading universities and look forward to helping foster closer connections between the institution and the people it serves," Hoffman said. "The work of UC affects the lives of people around the globe and in every community in California. Its success is dependent upon public understanding of its mission, open dialogue with policy-makers and constituents, and responsiveness to the needs of the public. I look forward to working with President Yudof and my colleagues throughout the UC system in pursuit of those objectives."
Hoffman has served twice, from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2006 to 2008, as chief of staff to Sen. Biden, the Delaware Democrat and current chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As chief of staff, Hoffman directed the senator's legislative agenda, communications strategy, political operations and office management.
From 2004 to 2006, Hoffman was vice president for external affairs for RAND, the nonprofit global policy think tank based in Santa Monica. There he was responsible for the organization's communications, government relations, fundraising, marketing, community relations, Web site development and corporate publications, serving also as an adviser to senior leadership.
From 2003 to 2004, Hoffman served as vice president in the Washington offices of Timmons & Co., a consulting and lobbying firm. In the mid-1990s, prior to joining Sen. Biden's staff, he served in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as special assistant to the assistant secretary for legislative affairs; in the U.S. Department of Justice as special counsel to the assistant attorney general for legislative affairs; and then as an assistant United States attorney in Philadelphia prosecuting federal crimes for the Justice Department.
His previous experience includes service in the White House as a staff member on the President's Task Force on National Health Care Reform and as a special assistant to Hillary Rodham Clinton during the 1992 presidential campaign and transition.
For the last four months, Hoffman has been serving as a consultant on a contract basis at the UC Office of the President, evaluating and assisting external relations programs while they have reported on an interim basis to Executive Vice President Katherine Lapp.
A Philadelphia native, Hoffman holds J.D. and master of public administration degrees from the University of Southern California and a B.A. degree from Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.
As senior vice president, Hoffman will receive an annual salary of $370,000. Given that he wishes to maintain an existing family home in the Los Angeles area, his appointment allows for up to one day per week of telecommuting. Per university policy, he will receive an annual automobile allowance of $8,916 and will be eligible for reimbursement of relocation expenses associated with establishing housing in the Oakland area and for participation in the University Home Loan Program. As an exception to policy, approved by the Regents, he will receive reimbursement of reasonable costs associated with temporary accommodations in the Oakland area, not to exceed $25,000 over a six-month period.
Hoffman also will receive standard pension and health and welfare benefits and standard senior management benefits, including senior manager life insurance, executive business travel insurance, executive salary continuation for disability, a monthly contribution of 5 percent of base salary to the senior management supplemental retirement benefit program, and an administrative fund for official entertainment and other purposes that comply with university policy. It is estimated that after 10 years of service, he would be eligible for a monthly retirement benefit of $3,233 under the standard UC Retirement Plan formula.
The University of California, recognized worldwide for its academic distinction, includes more than 220,000 students, 170,000 faculty and staff, and an $18 billion annual budget at its 10 campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. The university offers programs in more than 150 disciplines, many of which are ranked among the top 10 nationally, and for the last 12 years has generated more patents than any other university in the nation. UC's five medical centers support the clinical teaching programs of the university's medical and health sciences schools and handle more than three million patient visits each year. The UC system also is involved in managing the U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories at Berkeley, Livermore and Los Alamos, N.M.