William Trent is currently a professor of education policy studies and sociology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. are in sociology. His dissertation topic was "The Impact of Desegregated Schooling on Political Participation Among Young Adult Blacks."

He is a principal investigator for an Educational Reform Project focused on understanding the role of race, ethnicity, class and gender in school reform. He focuses his research on: (1) educational inequality, including school desegregation effects (K-12, postsecondary), benefits and consequences, social organization of school, status attainment research, co- and extracurricular activities, and comparative education; (2) race and ethnicity, including social stratification and mobility, and equality of opportunity; and (3) complex organization, social change, and policy.

He has served on several NAS committees and boards, including the Committee on Educational Excellence and Testing Equity and the Board on Testing and Assessment.