Bill Luzier's story is one of deep family ties, an evolving relationship with UD and a decade of dedicated service to his alma mater.

Luzier shares a special connection with UD as a Double Del with Betty Wilber Luzier, AS79, and as a proud parent of Julie Luzier, AS12. These intertwined relationships have deepened his appreciation for the university and its role in shaping not just his life but the lives of those closest to him. Yet, what sets Luzier’s journey apart is that it is one of gradual involvement, marked by a turning point approximately a decade ago. Over the past 10 years, Luzier has dedicated his time, energy and passion to volunteer roles within the University, making a profound impact on the UD community.

Luzier’s journey is a testament to the enduring spirit of UD alumni, whose ties to the university evolve and deepen long after they've walked across that commencement stage.

As Luzier ushers in his first year as the new president of the UD Alumni Association (UDAA), he shares his unique perspective and vision for the UDAA and its impact on all Blue Hen alumni.

How did you first get started with volunteering for UD?

During my time as a student at UD, my involvement with the University, other than taking classes and attending some football games, was minimal. As a first-generation college student, I was focused on doing my best in chemistry. If you had told me then that I would become the President of the UDAA, I would have thought you were absolutely out of your mind.

After graduating from UD in 1978, I entered the corporate world working for a large chemical company.  I earned my MBA part-time in '84. Through those years, I had little connection to Delaware other than attending a few football games; in fact, I rarely crossed paths with fellow Blue Hens.

Fast forward to around 2011, when someone from UD's development office gave me a call. At that time, I was working in Center City Philadelphia, and I had virtually no recent contact with UD. However, I was open to the idea of reconnecting. This conversation led to an invitation from the College of Arts & Sciences dean at the time, George Watson, to join the CAS advisory council, marking my first substantive interaction with the University in years.

Getting involved with the advisory council and later serving on the UDAA Board allowed me to subtly influence and contribute to the University. In today's professional world, networking is paramount, whether for job opportunities, career guidance or career changes. I had always believed in the strength of UD's alumni network but had never felt truly connected to it.

Over time, I became more involved, serving as an Executive Mentor for Lerner students, contributing to the development of the CAS mentoring program—now expanded to the UD Career Mentoring Program—and even joining the program as a mentor.  

So, while my journey of volunteering and reconnecting with UD didn't begin immediately after graduation, it has been a fulfilling and transformative experience, allowing me to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of our university and its alumni network.

What does this opportunity mean to you, being elected to president of the UDAA?

I can’t emphasize enough how honored and thrilled I am. The alumni association was formed in 1846, and reflecting on the University's history and being part of that tradition is mind-boggling and humbling. It's a chance to be part of something much bigger than myself and make a positive impact on a school and community that has meant so much to me over the years.

What are you most excited about in this role?

I'm most excited about the opportunities to make a difference and the number of opportunities that exist. Under the leadership of President Assanis, UD has achieved world-class excellence. But that excellence, experience and connection must not end at graduation. I believe a robust, thriving Blue Hen alumni community is an essential part of UD after graduation, and I know UD leadership feels the same way. The UDAA Board is committed to pursuing opportunities to achieve and live this vision. We are dedicated to building pride and lifelong loyalty in our Blue Hen community. I want others, just graduating from UD through those who graduated decades ago, to similarly enjoy their engagement with UD through rich, rewarding experiences leading them to be proud Blue Hens.

What does the UDAA do well and what do you hope to improve or accomplish?

We do a really good job in funding the Blue Hen Networks that hold events around the country. There are about two dozen of them. To demonstrate how they have grown: In 2006, UDAA supported eight events; 10 years later, 108 events. The importance of connections never goes away, and these events provide opportunities to connect and network.

We also celebrate Blue Hen success through our Awards programs. These include the Warner and Taylor Awards for Outstanding Seniors, the Alumni Wall of Fame Awards and Outstanding Alumni Awards. The names of these recipients are all memorialized at Alumni Circle. Additionally, the UDAA presents the T. Muncy Keith Spirit Award and we offer Academic Enrichment Awards to students from Blue Hen families, often for community-enhancing projects.

The alumni association’s partnership with the University is also very strong. The activities of the UDAA and alumni achievements and contributions to the University are consistently recognized by University leadership and championed by President Assanis.  I believe we enjoy a great symbiotic relationship not always observed at other universities.

We want to continue making membership (which is free and automatic upon graduation, by the way) valuable for all graduates. We aim to bring additional value to our worldwide Blue Hen community, increase connections among alumni and strengthen our connections with departments, professors, staff, and University leadership.

How do you see the relationship between the UDAA and the alumni population shifting over the years? Are alumni looking for more or less of certain benefits and resources?

Recent changes in technology and the way we work have accelerated the rate of change in the alumni community. The UDAA must assess our programs and practices to meet changing needs effectively. We need to reflect on what we are doing as an organization, stop what is not valuable, continue valuable activities and develop new ideas.

The challenge is to deliver networking, career aids, continuing education and event attendance in a more personal way, enhancing connections between alumni across various stages of life. We aim to make the UDAA as Best-in-Class as UD itself.

Learn more about the UDAA Board and what the UDAA provides to Blue Hen alumni.