Founders

Hallock Hoffman

Hallock Hoffman was a visionary leader and social change advocate who played a key role in the founding of Fielding Graduate University. Born into a family deeply engaged in public service and philanthropy, he was the son of Paul Hoffman, a prominent businessman and national policy leader who served as the first administrator of the Marshall Plan and later as President of the Ford Foundation. Hallock, however, charted his own course, embracing a mission-driven approach to education, democracy, and media.

Hoffman’s early career reflected his deep commitment to public discourse and democratic principles. In the mid-1950s, he joined the Fund for the Republic, an organization established by the Ford Foundation to challenge McCarthyism and defend civil liberties. He later became an integral part of the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions in Santa Barbara, where he spent a decade working alongside renowned scholars, intellectuals, and policymakers to explore major issues in American public life. His tenure there, which included serving as director of the politics program and leading studies on democracy, deeply influenced his views on education and institutional development​.

Hoffman also played a crucial role in shaping public broadcasting. He was a long-time advocate of independent media and served as president of the Pacifica Foundation, which pioneered listener-supported radio and laid the groundwork for National Public Radio. His commitment to fostering open dialogue and alternative voices in media further underscored his belief in democratic engagement and lifelong learning​.

In 1974, Hoffman co-founded Fielding alongside Frederic Hudson and Renate Tesch, with the goal of creating a progressive, learner-centered doctoral program for mid-career professionals. At Fielding, he was instrumental in establishing the institution’s unique approach to adult education, emphasizing whole-person learning, distributed education, and qualitative research. He also served as Fielding’s first board chair and treasurer, ensuring the institution’s financial stability while maintaining its commitment to mission-driven education.

Hoffman’s leadership style was deeply informed by his Quaker beliefs, his dedication to conflict resolution, and his conviction that education should foster personal and social transformation. His commitment to “whole-person learning” was evident in the way he nurtured Fielding’s community, emphasizing transparency, collaborative governance, and student-centered education.

After leaving Fielding in 1985, Hoffman continued to be active in education, nonprofit leadership, and social change initiatives. He served as executive vice-president of Human Solutions, a software development firm, and later became board chair of the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute. An avid pilot, he remained active in aviation well into his eighties.

Hallock Hoffman passed away in 2006 at the age of 88. His legacy as a champion of democratic education, independent media, and lifelong learning endures in Fielding Graduate University’s ongoing commitment to progressive, student-centered education​