William Lofland Dudley earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1880. He earned an honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine at Miami Medical College in 1885. Dudley became Professor and Chair of Chemistry at Vanderbilt University in 1886, where he introduced organic chemistry courses to the curriculum. Appointed Dean of the Medical School in 1895, Dudley raised the standards for admission, increased enrollment, recruited stronger faculty, and added new buildings to campus throughout his tenure. His research interests includes the hazards of both cigarette smoking and x-ray usage.

Dudley Field at Vanderbilt was named for the professor, in dedication to his advancement of college athletics and his service as president of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Additionally, Dudley served as Director of Affairs of the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. He remained at Vanderbilt until his retirement in 1912.