Finance guy reinvents himself as an English teacher
"I would encourage anybody in school to reflect on what makes them enjoy life and figure out a way to make a profession out of that," said Sam Hoffman, who pivoted from finance and is now earning a Master of Arts in English from ASU. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2026 graduates.
In 2024, Sam Hoffman should have been comfortable in his life. He was a business finance manager for a Seattle-area utility company. He had served two years in the Peace Corps in Cameroon. He held an MBA from George Washington University. And he spent plenty of time outdoors in beautiful Washington state.
But Hoffman couldn’t shake an unsettled feeling. He was a lover of the humanities — especially of language, writing and reading — and he wanted to share that love with others. So, he took a leap of faith and left his comfortable job for a life of imagination.
This spring, Hoffman is graduating from Arizona State University with a Master of Arts in English, which he earned through ASU Online.
During his time as a student, he completed a virtual internship as an English teacher with Educaminos, a study abroad organization located in Bogotá, Colombia. The experience cemented his commitment to teaching English language learners. In addition, Hoffman won a High Impact Internship Award this spring for incorporating “a thoughtful integration of humanistic values, pedagogy and community-centered learning” into his teaching.
“Sam’s path to TESOL reflects both intentional career change and a deep passion for language,” said Ruby Macksoud, who directs the internship and career futures program in the Department of English. “His story stands out for its thoughtful career pivot, global engagement, and clear dedication to becoming an impactful educator for diverse language learners.”
As he gets credentialed to teach, Hoffman has begun serving as a substitute instructional aide for Seattle Public Schools and working on curriculum for the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Hoffman answered a few questions about his ASU journey.
Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study in your field?
Answer: I entered ASU’s MA in English program, not with a clear and direct goal in mind, but with an urge to regain a path I once traveled and had since lost. It was an intuitive decision.
I loved the humanities as an adolescent but had pursued studies in college that were deemed more employable. Fast-forward a dozen or so years and something in my life felt askew. My job in finance paid well, I was healthy, I led an active social life. I should have been happy. Yet I felt unfulfilled.
This intuitive feeling nagged at me until I began to research master’s programs in English. A year and a half later, and having regained that former path, I’m very grateful that I acted upon that feeling.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you, that changed your perspective?
A: The past year and a half has shown me the critical interplay between academic and creative writing. I’m a fiction writer, and multiple stories I’m working on are set in the past. I’ve learned how much the elements of good narrative fiction lend a hand to academic writing, and also how helpful the rigorous discipline of academic writing is for creating strong narrative fiction, especially historical fiction.
Q: Why did you choose ASU?
A: I live in Seattle and work full time, so the accessibility and convenience of ASU’s online program appealed to me. The size and range of expertise in the English department and the accomplishments of its faculty were other important factors in my decision.
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: Ruby Macksoud in the English department gave me encouragement and inspiration throughout my time at ASU. Her dedication to students and her ability to make distance learners feel connected and engaged are exemplary. Further, her work ethic inspires me to show up, every day, for those who will rely on me as an educator. I am grateful to Ruby.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Work hard, trust yourself, and focus on the things that bring you intrinsic value. Having worked for a number of years in a field that paid well but left me unfulfilled, I would encourage anybody in school to reflect on what makes them enjoy life and figure out a way to make a profession out of that. Don’t settle for what others tell you to do if it doesn’t resonate with you.
Q: What was your favorite spot for power studying?
A: The dining room table in my apartment looks out onto downtown Seattle, and during late-night reading and writing sessions it provided comfort and easy access to the espresso maker in the kitchen.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: If someone entrusted me with 40 million big ones, I would direct the funds toward literacy improvement in American public schools. Research shows that children first learn to read, but then fairly quickly switch to reading to learn. This transition happens early (sometime in elementary school), so low literacy early in one’s life has serious negative consequences later. We need an educated society, one whose members can think for themselves, navigate important ethical questions, articulate their needs and wants, advocate for themselves and for each other, and connect their inner world to the external, shared world.
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