Maryn Hoffman is a third-year political science undergraduate whose academic and professional interests sit at the intersection of political communication, research, and public service. At UCSB, Hoffman combines research on political communication with leadership roles in student government and pre-law organizations Her work reflects a broader commitment to understanding how politics operates in everyday life – and how restorative justice practices can improve community outcomes.
For Maryn Hoffman, politics did not begin in the classroom, but in her living room. She was raised with Rachel Maddow always playing in the background, and even though she didn’t always understand the issues she was explaining – she knew it mattered. That early curiosity, combined with a politically charged high school environment shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, laid the foundation for her path as a political science student at UC Santa Barbara. Now a third-year major with minors in Applied Psychology and Professional Writing, Hoffman has developed an interest in how politics operates both personally and institutionally.
With no older siblings to guide her through the college process, Hoffman had to piece things together herself. Touring UCSB as a senior in high school, Hoffman fell in love with UCSB and knew she belonged here. Beyond the ocean views, she was drawn to a combination of the competitive culture, vast opportunities and encouragement from people who believed she belonged at a UC – like her best friend’s mom, a proud UCSB alum.
Once on campus, Hoffman’s relationship with political science quickly deepened. She arrived with a general interest in law and an openness to exploring where the major might take her. But everything shifted when she found political communication and connected with Professor Bruce Bimber.
She enrolled in Political Science 172: Political Communication last quarter, where Professor Bimber created the space for students to have hands-on research experiences. However, Bimber’s class didn’t just introduce her to a subfield; it gave her a research identity. In his class, she learned how to ask questions, design research, and think critically about political language.
Through that course, she connected with graduate student Daniel Cervantes and began working with him on a project examining conspiratorial language in congressional tweets. As a human coder, Hoffman helps classify tweets as conspiratorial or not, and as implicit or explicit – work that requires immense attention to detail, close reading, and an understanding of the strategy behind each word.
Research isn’t Hoffman’s only arena. She is deeply involved in student government, serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Internal Vice President’s Office of Associated Students. She previously worked as an Internal Affairs Coordinator and now helps supervise office members, fill in for the IVP, and co-leads IV Underground, an initiative to support Isla Vista bands through paid, on-campus concerts. She also serves as Events Chair for Women in Law, organizing panels and programs that connect undergraduates with legal professionals and campus resources.
Her work aims to do more than just help the local IV community. Hoffman has wanted to be a lawyer ever since she was little. She is drawn to restorative justice and alternative models of criminal justice that prioritize treatment and healing over punishment. Through an internship with UCSB’s Restorative Justice program and a seminar in the Religious Studies department, she helps bring speakers to campus and promotes training in Community Building circles – facilitating dialogues designed to address conflict in constructive, human-centered ways.
Amid academics, research, and leadership positions, Hoffman is intentional about staying grounded. Daily exercise, trips to the beach, and making time for friends and family are non-negotiable. For her, community isn’t just a topic of study or a buzzword; it’s the structure that makes all of her ambitions sustainable.