[4] A life-long devotee of the power of intuition and fresh thought, Hoffberger was accepted into college at age 15,[5] though chose instead the personal invitation of internationally renowned mime Marcel Marceau, to become his first American apprentice in Paris.
[6] After working with patients at Sinai Hospital’s “People Encouraging People” program, Hoffberger became focused on developing her idea of a "visionary museum”—a facility that would specialize in showcasing the work of self-taught, "visionary" artists, and serve as an education center that emphasized intuitive, creative invention.
In her inaugural address, Hoffberger stated that “...the American Visionary Art Museum opens its doors of perception not in an effort to make war on academic or institutionalized learning, but to create a place where the best of self-taught, intuitive contributions of all kinds will be duly recognized, explored, and then championed in a clear strong voice.
Generating free public educational conferences for each exhibition’s subject, Hoffberger invited speakers including: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Patch Adams, MD, Dame Anita Roddick, comic Lewis Black, nature philosopher Diane Ackerman, Matt Groening, Julian Bond, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, and Daryl Davis.
[6] She has been the recipient of numerous mental health advocacy and equal opportunity awards and has served as a Director of Jewish Education and on the Board of The Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Center, and has also been a featured speaker at many events, including 2009‘s TEDxMidAtlantic.