This endowment, named in honor of William P. Bushnell, supports a five-year term appointment by the president of the University of Florida. Bushnell studied engineering at the University of Florida in the 1920s and developed a number of successful ventures in the steel industry. His civic and professional experience included serving as a local politician of Bellair Shores, FL, director of the Tampa Builders Exchange and CEO of Florida Metals, Inc. and Bushnell Steel Products, Inc.

William Bushnell made a substantial number of major gifts to UF during his lifetime and also funded charitable gift annuities. Also honoring Bushnell at UF is the William P. and Janet F. Bushnell Professorship in Urban Environmental Sustainability in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.