He founded the Talent Identification Program at Duke University.
After graduating from Franklin and Marshall College, Bevan served in the navy.
Bevan was a Fulbright Scholar in Norway, served as provost and vice president at Johns Hopkins University, and was the executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
He came back to Duke as the psychology department chair, served as provost and founded the Talent Identification Program.
[2] William was a distinguished member of PSI CHI International Honor Society for Psychology.