Bennett has served as president of Earlham College since 1997 and will retire from this position on June 30, 2011. He serves on the Board of Advisors to the IU East campus and on the Board of Directors to the National Survey of Student Engagement, housed at IU Bloomington. As the 16th president of Earlham, Bennett has made a strong commitment to the college's role in the local community. His role as a civic leader was solidified with the creation of his "Earlham Forums," which focused on community issues. He has enhanced the student-centered mission of the college while upgrading facilities. His leadership in development has raised more funds in the college's capital campaign than any previous campaign in the school's history.