Alumni Profile: Lisa (Do) Hofflich, Class of 1990

As the Regional Director and Special Advisor for US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and previously a Legislative Advisor to two members of the NYS Assembly, Hofflich—who now acts as the Senator’s representative for eight counties and 3 million people in the Lower Hudson Valley—has written 28 New York State bills that have been signed into law, including this Walking While Trans.

“I am her liaison to the community… I help shape policy in the U.S. Senate,” said the 28-year-old policymaker who has lived in New York since 1990 and is happily married with five wonderful kids. ”Life is good. It's challenging but good.”
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Prior to her legislative accolades, Hofflich’s career path took her through television news production, social justice activism and advocacy.

Hofflich fondly remembers her years at Milpitas High School. “I loved my time at MHS,” she said, vividly recalling her History teacher Henry Robinson and others who impacted her to this day.

“He was a social activist even in the classroom. He taught us how to be advocates for social justice. He’s fantastic,” said Hofflich of the retired educator and current MPD Police-MUSD School Liaison. “The faculty and staff at Milpitas HS were really accepting, very nurturing. ..I never felt that I couldn’t do something after talking to one of my teachers.”

Even after high school, Hofflich kept in touch with many of her teachers and sought mentoring from them—something she wanted to share with younger generations of Milpitas students who are navigating those challenging adolescent years.

“Teachers are your allies and mentors. ...It’s OK to ask for help from your teachers,” Hofflich said. “I felt such support from my teachers.” 

Hofflich, whose office is always accepting internship applications for college-aged students interested in public policy, was recently named chair of an Asian American Pacific Islander Democratic Committee in Westchester, New York, formed in response to a rise in AAPI hate incidents.

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