Harvard Professor, Accomplished Athlete Chosen As Commencement Speaker For Greenwich Academy

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich Academy recently announced it has selected alumna Jenny Hoffman ('96), a Clowes professor of science at Harvard University and an accomplished athlete, as the commencement speaker for the school’s 199th commencement ceremony scheduled for Thursday, May 21.

Hoffman, a member of Harvard’s physics department, is known for research that combines atomic-scale material growth and high-resolution imaging to explore new physical phenomena and applications, GA said in an announcement.

Her work has earned multiple national honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, a Sloan Fellowship, a Radcliffe Fellowship and the Moore Foundation Experimental Investigator Award. She has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers that have been cited more than 8,000 times.

In addition to her academic career, Hoffman is an endurance athlete. She is a three-time U.S. national champion in the 24-hour run and was part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2017 24-Hour Run World Championships.

In 2023, Hoffman set a world record for running across the United States, covering 3,032 miles from San Francisco to New York in 47 days, 12 hours and 35 minutes.

Hoffman earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard University, completed her master’s and doctoral degrees in physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and later served as a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University.

Reflecting on her experience as a Greenwich Academy student, Hoffman credited faculty members with recognizing individual student needs.

"My math teacher recognized that I needed to be more challenged," she said in an announcement. "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."

Head of School Margaret Hazlett said Hoffman’s career reflects the values the school seeks to instill in its students.

"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," Hazlett said. "She is an inspiring role model for the Class of 2026 as they embark on their own college and, later, professional careers."