Dan Hofmann grew up dreaming of playing professional baseball. A native of Centereach, a small farming community in the middle of Long Island, New York, he was a multi-sport captain at his high school. His leadership began as a member of teams long before it ever showed up in parking and transportation systems.
Hofmann, who has served as Clemson’s director of Parking and Transportation Services since 2011, is retiring effective Thursday, Oct. 15. Vanessa Weston is set to step into the interim director role while a search for Hofmann’s replacement is conducted.
Throughout his 15+ years, he’s built a mobility ecosystem on campus, not just a parking operation.
“You can bike, walk or take transit,” he says. “We’ve implemented a lot of new programs.”
With a background heavy in municipal operations, Hofmann thought of Clemson as a “little city” — it had a blend of all types of parking, including permit and metered — and felt right at home immediately.
During his tenure, Clemson has experienced unprecedented growth. The University’s parking and transportation infrastructure has evolved in alignment with the changes.
“I’ve had a front-row seat to the upgrades we’ve made at Clemson, which have really put students at the forefront, and it’s been special,” says Hofmann, who also served as Staff Senate president in 2018-19.
With Hofmann leading the organization, Parking and Transportation Services has grown its program through innovations such as low-emissions vehicle (LEV) parking, bike sharing and new transit routes. Expanded and more efficient bus service has led to record numbers of students commuting to and from main campus each day.
He’s particularly proud of the organization’s most recent innovation, Tigers Commute. Students, faculty, staff and visitors use the real-time parking and transportation platform to find parking options, track buses and explore other transit options. More than 10,000 parking spaces have sensors that allow drivers to find available spaces quickly. Earlier this summer, Hofmann and his team were honored with the 2026 Apex Award for Innovation from the International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI). Clemson is also one of just 25 universities nationally to be an accredited parking organization by IPMI.
While he’s honored by the recognition, he’s most proud of the team he’s been privileged to lead — incorporating lessons that began with the captaincy of his school’s baseball and football teams.
“I’ve made a lot of lifetime friends in my time at Clemson,” says Hofmann, who’s had five supervisors over the course of 15 years. “I’ll miss being part of a team and working with people to get things done.”
“Dan’s tenure leaves a legacy of modernization and data-driven decision making,” says Kathy Bush Hobgood, senior associate vice president and Hofmann’s supervisor since 2021. “Under his leadership, we have best understood the power of collecting data through our sensor project, as well as the benefits of sharing that data out to campus through the award-winning Tigers Commute app. Dan will be remembered for his team’s accomplishments, as well as his dedication to making sure to hear from and balance the needs of all constituents.”
As he heads into retirement, Hofmann looks forward to working outside at his home and enjoying another team, spending more time with his wife Ann, their three grandchildren and two collies.
