Bill and Liz Bent Make $500,000 Commitment to Student Leadership and Career Development

For Bloomsburg University Foundation Board of Directors member William “Bill” Bent, giving back to his alma mater has always been about creating opportunities for students to grow as leaders and gain confidence. His latest gifts to support the William & Elizabeth Bent Sophomore Leadership Experience and establish the new William & Elizabeth Bent Professional Experience Grant continue that commitment in a powerful way.

Bill and his wife, Liz, recently made a gift of $500,000 to increase support for the Sophomore Leadership Experience while also creating an endowed fund for the William & Elizabeth Bent Professional Experience Grant. This grant will help students pursue internships, professional development opportunities and other career-building experiences that might otherwise be financially out of reach.

A 1983 Bloomsburg graduate, Bent has built a distinguished career as an entrepreneur, executive coach, investor and business leader. Today, he serves as the Managing Member of New Day Senior Living Management, LLC, a portfolio of senior housing communities, while also mentoring professionals and emerging leaders across industries. Bill and Liz currently live in Colorado, but despite his success and distance from campus, he says some of his most meaningful work is helping students navigate the same pivotal years he once experienced himself.

“When the BU Foundation team approached me about a leadership program for sophomores, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I almost dropped out of BU my sophomore year because of the challenges I faced,’” Bent shared when discussing the inspiration behind the program. “Sophomore year is such a pivotal time in a student’s life and leadership training can be a game changer.”

The William and Elizabeth Bent Sophomore Leadership Experience was launched to help students strengthen leadership skills through workshops, assessments, networking opportunities, and one-on-one mentoring. Students in the program discover valuable tools to better understand themselves and prepare for future success.
For many participants, the impact has been transformational.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Bill,” said Lane Tanney ’20 in a recent video about Bill’s mentorship. “Bill jump-started my career. He gave me an opportunity.”
“Bill is the type of person who cares,” added Sierra Finnerty ’24/’26, Graduate Assistant with the William and Elizabeth Bent Leadership Program. “He understands what people go through, and he wants to make those connections to help them succeed in life.”

Bent believes those relationships and experiences can have a lifelong impact.
“I would love for each student to gain insight into who he or she is; really dive in to discover his or her authenticity, and in that process, unleash hidden talents and passions,” Bent said. “If each student taps into himself or herself, I believe the sky’s the limit for the student and CU-Bloomsburg alike.”

Bent’s ongoing commitment to students and alumni engagement was recently recognized when he received the 2026 William T. Derricott ’66 Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award, an honor celebrating alumni who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg through volunteer service and mentorship.

“Bill’s generosity goes far beyond financial support,” said Jerome Dvorak, executive director of the Bloomsburg University Foundation. “He is investing in the future of our students and our university and our ability to shape them into tomorrow’s leaders. His commitment to mentoring and empowering students inspires the next generation of Huskies to dream bigger and create a lasting impact in their communities and careers.”

For Bent, the connection to Bloomsburg has only grown stronger over time.
“Bloomsburg keeps growing its model, which keeps the school relevant,” he said. “As CU-Bloomsburg continues to enhance how it supports its future leaders, I am inspired to be part of it.”

Through his leadership, mentorship and philanthropy, Bill ensures generations of Huskies have the support and opportunities they need to succeed, both during their time at Bloomsburg and long after graduation.