Hoofers welcomes new director
As a young girl, Linda Bentz always wanted a horse. Born and raised in Chicago, she didn’t get her wish until her twenties. For the past five years, Linda has worked as an advisor to Hoofers and now as their new director, Linda gets to continue working daily with students who share her love for outdoor activities.
Linda has a long history and passion for working with students. She received a masters in education with a specialty in counseling from Western Illinois University, and worked as a school counselor “in a former life,” as she jokingly says. Linda then branched out entrepreneurially, starting several small businesses with her husband. When her husband got a job offer in Wisconsin, she relocated to UW-River Falls and worked as the director of Upward Bound, a program to prep students in how to succeed in a college environment. She collaborated extensively with staff to further develop the program, and then moved to Madison in 2005 to accept an advisor position with Hoofers.
Linda’s love for Hoofers easily shines through. “I love working with the students,” she says with a smile. “Watching students develop leadership skills and watching them take an idea and fly with it and make it into a viable event or a program is just amazing. We’re a first-class, world-class outdoor recreation program.”
As director, Linda is involved with all Hoofers clubs and events. “I help the student leaders with whatever they need to help them and their programs succeed,” she says. This can include everything from brainstorming to fundraising, and Linda says she hopes her advice and guidance will help the Hoofers continue to be the amazing program it is.
Outside of her job, Linda is passionate about working with animals and the outdoors. She and her husband own a small farm outside Madison where she spends every morning caring for her horses and other animals. “I was just born with a love of the outdoors,” Linda said, “and I love having the chance to combine all of my expertise into something so great.”
