Greenwich Academy announced that Dr. Jenny Hoffman ’96, Clowes Professor of Science at Harvard University, will serve as the speaker for the school’s 199th commencement on Thursday, May 21.
Dr. Hoffman’s research as a member of Harvard’s Physics Department combines atomic layer-by-layer growth and atomic resolution imaging of materials to uncover new physics and applications inaccessible via bulk synthesis and probes. Widely recognized for her advances in the field, she is the recipient of the United States Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Sloan Fellowship, the Radcliffe Fellowship, and the Moore Foundation Experimental Investigator Award. She is the author of more than 50 peer-reviewed papers, cited over 8,000 times.
Outside the laboratory, Dr. Hoffman is an accomplished endurance athlete. A three-time U.S. national champion in the 24-hour run, she was also a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 24-Hour Run World Championships in 2017. In 2023, she broke the world record for running across the United States by more than a week, covering 3,032 miles from San Francisco to New York in 47 days, 12 hours, and 35 minutes.
Dr. Hoffman holds a BA in Physics from Harvard, she completed her Masters and PhD in Physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University.
Reflecting on her time as a Greenwich Academy student, Dr. Hoffman says she was most impacted by the faculty and their focus on each student as an individual. “My math teacher recognized that I needed to be more challenged,” she recalled, “He ultimately created a new class for me and encouraged me to participate in extramural competitions, where I gained self-confidence that has served me well throughout my life.”
“Dr. Hoffman is a true trailblazer and embodies the very best of a Greenwich Academy education—intellectual fearlessness, resilience, and a willingness to pursue bold goals,” said Head of School Margaret Hazlett. “She is an inspiring role model for the Class of 2026 as they embark on their own college and, later, professional careers.”
