When Michael Hoffmeister arrived on campus as an undergraduate, he anticipated pursuing a degree in psychology. Instead, a social work class focusing on the formation of social welfare policies and the role of the social work professional, taught by Dr. Jan Greenberg, changed his trajectory.
Three social work degrees later, Dr. Hoffmeister is now the Director of Research and Evaluation, Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare at the University of Minnesota.
Along the way, he held just about every imaginable role available at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work — from student, to researcher, to instructor. His experience at the school includes:
- Earning BSW, MSW, and PhD degrees.
- Participanting in the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program as a student.
- Working as a research assistant at the Institute for Research on Poverty.
- Teaching as a field faculty member in the Advanced Generalist MSW IV-E field unit.
- Acting as an agency supervisor for social work students while employed at the Wisconsin Department for Children and Families.
Hoffmeister finished his PhD in fall of 2024 but came back to campus this spring to walk in graduation. The following is a Q&A with him about his time and varied roles at the school.
Thinking back to deciding about colleges and programs — how did you end up deciding on a BSW?
I always knew that I wanted to work with children and families, but when I first arrived at UW-Madison, I wasn’t quite sure how to turn that passion into a career. Initially, I planned to major in psychology, but during the fall semester of my sophomore year, I took Social Work 205: Introduction to the Field of Social Work with Dr. Jan Greenberg. That course was a turning point when I immediately recognized that social work was the right fit for me. I deeply connected with its core values and the opportunity to advocate for children and families across different levels.
At first, I envisioned spending my career in direct service, working hands-on with children and families in human services. However, as I gained more insight into the challenges within support systems in the United States, I became increasingly drawn to macro-level work, focusing on data-driven policy decisions that create lasting, systemic change.
What’s one of your earliest memories of the school that stands out?
One week in that same class with Dr. Greenberg, we had a guest speaker, Dr. Susan Michaud, who introduced us to the child welfare system in Wisconsin. That presentation was a defining moment for me. As I left class that day, I knew, without a doubt, that my future would be in the child welfare system in some capacity. I didn’t yet know exactly what that would look like, but I was excited about the clarity I felt following that presentation and the possibilities a social work degree would open for me.
You’ve done so many things at the school and had so many roles — what was it like to go from student to instructor? Or from undergraduate to graduate student? Or from mentee to mentor?
The faculty and staff at the school made every transition feel seamless, creating an environment where I could truly grow. I really value the opportunities I had to learn from the school community, not only as an undergraduate and graduate student but also as a field instructor, gaining insights from my students, and through the meaningful relationships I’ve built with my own mentors.
The chance to give back has been even more rewarding. Serving as a field instructor, committee member, and mentor for MSW and PhD students in various capacities has allowed me to apply my experiences in ways that support others on their own journeys. The school equipped me with the skills to excel in these different roles, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
What classes, teachers, peers, or students made a lasting impact on you?
It’s hard to narrow down the ways the school community has made a lasting impact on me.
I can confidently say that I am the person and professional that I am today because of the classes I took, the lessons (both formal and informal) I learned from faculty and staff, and the interactions I had with people at the school.
My advisors (Drs. Lonnie Berger, Jessica Pac, and Kristi Slack) gave me so much time, patience, and energy to help me to become the scholar that I am today. The IV-E program, including Ellen Smith, Alice Egan, Audrey Conn, my 2012-13 and 2013-14 IV-E cohorts, and the IV-E MSW students from 2020-2024, shaped my interest and skills in child welfare social work and reminded me every day why I chose this profession. I have so many fond memories of annual Dinner with the Director, Child Welfare Dialogues, and book clubs. I have felt truly lucky to be an active part of the school community for so long.
How did things change at the school in your time?
Things have changed quite a bit since my first social work class in 2010! Mostly the changes have been in the people we see around the school; a number of faculty have retired, and new faculty have taken their place. The school also introduced a new name! But even with the new name and the people coming and going, the heart of the school has remained. I’ve always known the school to have a positive, collaborative energy, and am so happy that HASN’T changed.