William I. (Bill) Ney served Butler University as a full-time professor for 32 years (1970-2002) and as an adjunct for nine years (2002-2011). In 1978, he founded the Speech Disorders and Hearing program, now known as the Communications Sciences and Disorders program. He served as head of that program until 1998. His faculty responsibilities included teaching numerous courses in the area of speech science and disorders but also overseeing the speech clinic and the coordination of classes and faculty who taught them.

During his tenure at Butler, he served as chairperson of the Faculty Assembly and as president of the Faculty Club. As a student at Butler, he was involved in football (B-Man) and drama (acting and stage crew). Ney also studied at Purdue University and Ball State University.

His wife, Judith (Wies) Ney, M.S. '77, his son Willie, B.A. '80, and his daughter Wendi also attended Butler University.