Bonner, previously the board's vice chairman, will oversee the foundation’s 2027-2030 roadmap. The plan targets an increase in annual philanthropic support to $80 million by 2030 and a growth of the university's endowment from $400 million to $500 million. His tenure focuses on strengthening advocacy, governance standards, and external communications to bolster the university's long-term financial health.

A graduate of the UNLV Lee Business School and UCLA School of Law, Bonner maintains a practice centered on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and the complexities of the gaming and hospitality sectors. His experience advising boards of directors on governance matters is expected to play a central role in his new capacity as he leads the foundation’s efforts to serve as a principal community ambassador for the university.