ECE faculty Eric Hoffman retires

Eric Hoffman, teaching faculty with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at UW–Madison, retired earlier this year after 23 years with the department. Hoffman described his time teaching on campus as his vocation, after first crafting a career in industry.

Upon receiving a BS and an MS in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota, respectively, Hoffman spent a decade with Intel Corporation, rising through the ranks as a design engineer. After Intel, he spent seven years with ZMDI in Madison before starting Hoffman Beta Lab LLC, an engineering and prototyping firm specializing in microcontroller and FPGA-based electronic systems.

Initially, Hoffman joined the department part-time while he ran Hoffman Beta Lab LLC. Then, in 2017, Hoffman joined the faculty full-time, teaching a broad range of computer engineering courses. Topics he covered ranged from transistor-level fundamentals and low-level programming to advanced system design.

Across his teaching, Hoffman consistently strengthened the ECE curriculum through thoughtful updates and hands-on learning experiences. In ECE 555 Digital Circuits and Components, he built a well-organized set of course materials and a rigorous project that remained in use for years, including early integration of emerging topics like FinFET technology. In ECE 554 Digital Engineering Laboratory, he expanded the course with new mini-assignments that introduced students to FPGA board peripherals and developed updated content to support implementing a RISC-V processor in the course project. While teaching ECE 551 Digital System Design and Synthesis, he took experiential learning even further by designing course projects around custom-built hardware, giving students the opportunity to implement designs, such as components of an electronic bike using SystemVerilog, and test them on a physical platform he created and maintained. Prior to this work, students relied largely on simulation, but Hoffman’s efforts brought their designs to life, making the learning experience far more tangible and rewarding. Beyond the classroom, he invested significant time in the lab, working directly with students as they tackled these challenges, consistently creating projects that were both demanding and motivating.

ECE Associate Chair for Research and Grainger Institute for Engineering Associate Professor Kassem Fawaz shared, “Eric has left a hole that will be hard to fill in the department. He is one of the reasons why ECE delivers a high-quality teaching experience for the undergraduate students. I remember when he onboarded me to teach ECE 352 (Digital System Fundamentals) a few years back. He recorded several videos walking me through each aspect of course planning and delivery, ensuring that the students received a good experience. I have not seen anyone with a dedication to our students like Eric. When we had neighboring offices, Eric’s door was always open, constantly helping and guiding students with homework, projects, and other course materials. I often took advantage of Eric’s open door to discuss lots of things. His sense of humor and wisdom can help solve any problems.”

Associate Professor Joshua San Miguel commented, “What made Eric such a great teacher is that even with all his years of professional experience as an engineer, he’s still very much a kid at heart. He views all aspects of science and technology with genuine joy and fascination and shares this with all his students.”

Top of page image by Todd Brown, UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health – Media Solutions
Bottom of page left: Maritza Santiago-Martinez and Hoffman welcome new students at the College of Engineering Open House
Bottom of page right: Hoffman tests a project demonstration during the ECE Capstone Design Open House