Students at the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business will benefit from expanded professional and career development opportunities thanks to a $1 million gift from the Hoffman Family, owners of Burlington Subaru and Burlington Hyundai. The investment will enhance the school’s Center for Student Success, strengthening academic and career advising, leadership training, career pathways, internships, and professional networks that prepare students to thrive after graduation. 

In recognition of their generosity, the center was formally dedicated as the Hoffman Family Center for Student Success during a ceremony held on April 8, 2026.

“This investment from the Hoffman Family strengthens one of the most important aspects of a Grossman education—our ability to prepare students for meaningful, impactful careers,” said Dean Sanjay Sharma. “The Hoffman Family Center for Student Success will allow us to deepen our support for every student, ensuring they graduate not only with a world-class education, but with the experience, connections, and confidence to lead.”

Located in Kalkin Hall, the Hoffman Family Center serves as a hub for professional development at the Grossman School, offering students individualized advising, internship and job placement support, leadership training, and access to hands-on learning experiences. Through programs such as career coaching, industry and alumni networking events, case competitions, and study abroad opportunities, the center equips students with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in a competitive global marketplace.

“This is a powerful example of philanthropy that directly transforms the student experience,” said Kathleen Kelleher, interim president and CEO of the UVM Foundation. “The Hoffman Family’s generosity will ensure that more Grossman students can pursue life-changing experiences and thrive after graduation, regardless of financial barriers.”

Deep Connections to UVM and Vermont

Hoffman Family Center for Student Success


The gift reflects the Hoffman Family’s deep and longstanding connection to the University of Vermont and to the state itself. The family has spent generations visiting Vermont and recently expanded their business presence in the Burlington area.

Matthew Hoffman ’99 now serves as President of Hoffman East at the Hoffman Auto Group, a fourth-generation, family-owned business. Founded more than a century ago, Hoffman Auto Group has grown from a single dealership into one of the region’s largest automotive enterprises, with locations in Connecticut and Vermont. 

Alongside their business success, the family has built a strong tradition of philanthropy, supporting numerous initiatives at UVM, including the Davis Student Center, the Holocaust Studies Program, and the Hoffman Lecture Series at the Grossman School of Business. This latest gift continues the Hoffman Family’s 25-year legacy of investing in future generations and reinforces the Grossman School’s commitment to developing leaders who will build better businesses—and a better world.

“Our family believes deeply in the power of education to change lives,” said Matthew Hoffman. “The Grossman School played an important role in shaping my own path, and we are proud to support a center that helps students discover their passions, gain real-world experience, and build the futures they envision. It’s important to us that every student has access to these opportunities.”

Learn More

Fundraising for the Grossman School of Business is a major focus for the University of Vermont Foundation, a nonprofit corporation established to secure and manage private support for the benefit of the University of Vermont and the UVM Medical Center. To inquire about making a gift to the Grossman School, contact Alex Brady ’10 at alex.brady@uvm.edu.
 

Below are a few other stories about the impact of donors like the Hoffman Family have on the University of Vermont: