Public Safety recently welcomed its new director of emergency management, Heather Hoffman, who comes to LMU from the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, where she managed their emergency preparedness program.
Get to know Heather in the Q&A below:
Public Safety: Describe your background and how you got into emergency management.
Heather Hoffman: I grew up in Orange County, and earned my B.A. in political science from San Jose State University. I started my career in politics, but after an internship where I had an opportunity to dabble in emergency management, I quickly found that I was no longer interested in a political career. A spot opened up on the team that I interned for, so I quickly jumped at the opportunity and six years later, here I am.
PS: What about LMU drew you to this role?
HH: The thing that really drew me to LMU is the sense of community. As a smaller university, everyone seems to know everyone else – it’s like joining an enthusiastic and collaborative family.
PS: What is your favorite part of emergency management?
HH: I love being able to take a deep dive and immerse myself in a problem. For example, today it’s COVID-19, tomorrow it may be continuity of operations. I enjoy learning everything I need to know about a particular issue, and then applying my knowledge to the problem at hand; building and testing plans, conducting exercises, and training.
PS: What is a project you are most proud of professionally?
HH: I’m very proud of the business continuity programs I’ve created for the organizations I’ve previously worked for. The number one comment I seem to receive when I start working for an organization is: “We always start and stop, and start and stop continuity planning, and plans are never made – why should we do it again with you?” I am proud that I was able to show people that it is possible to build a robust and effective continuity program.
PS: Tell us a little bit about you outside of work.
HH: I try to surf every chance I get, which can be difficult as a parent of a toddler. I also enjoy trying new coffee shops, traveling (also difficult with a toddler, but I try), and taking my son to the park. I recently moved to Long Beach, so I’m at the very exciting stage of learning a city and exploring everything it has to offer.
PS: What is one thing people may be surprised to learn about you?
HH: Though I love coffee, I drink mostly decaf because I am ridiculously sensitive to caffeine.
Heather is located in Foley Annex, and can be reached at heather.hoffman@lmu.edu.
