Next step: Double Bear, law student at ONU's Pettit College of Law
Andrea Hoffman feels lucky to be continuing her education at ONU's Pettit College of Law.
While growing up in Lewis Center, Ohio, Hoffman had an avid interest in history and government. At ONU, she doubled majored in political science and public relations. In law school, she plans to focus on health law and cites living with cystic fibrosis as a key influence.
“I am passionate about advocacy and believe public policy is the way to make lasting change," she said.
Many of her experiences at ONU are highlights, she says.
A 2021 summer internship at Belle Communications let her apply lessons from the classroom. “It was great to work with a female-run company and see how workplace culture can benefit clients.”
During an internship with Ohio Insurance Agents Association, she worked on a variety of projects, allowing her to meet with industry professionals and government officials, thereby expanding her network.
As a founding fellow at the ONU Institute for Civics and Public Policy, Hoffman “gained real-world experience through formatting policy briefs, analyzing data, facilitating polls, running social media accounts, talking with alumni and friends of ICAPP and working with peers.”
Also, in December of 2020, she published an op-ed with CNN. “I used coursework to tell my pandemic story on a national level and was able to add a publication to my resume.”
Her most memorable experience, though, was attending the national Democratic debate at Otterbein University while reporting for ONU.
“It took place in 2020 during my first months on campus. I interviewed Senator Amy Klobuchar, former Representative Beto O’Rourke and interacted with Senator Elizabeth Warren and the current Vice President Kamala Harris,” she says.
ONU, she says, set her up for success in law school by providing a lot of opportunities to connect with alumni; the chance to understand career opportunities in her field; and versatile courses to pursue her passions.
"These three things combined together to make my college experience more fulfilling than I could ever have imagined," she said.