Jacob Gerding

Biography

I grew up in a small, midwestern town in West Central Illinois where there were more cornfields than people. Originally, I went to a nearby college to study Graphic Design, but after a year of serving in my church's youth group, I felt the LORD was taking me down a new path of pursuing a degree in Youth Ministry, which required me to transfer schools.

I transferred to Evangel University to study Youth Ministry in 2014 and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science. Throughout my time at Evangel, I served as an RA during my Junior and Senior years, which is where I felt the the LORD preparing to take me down another new path—this time the path was headed toward Taylor University and a degree in Higher Education and Student Development.

I came to Taylor in May of 2018 to be a part of the MAHE program's 12th cohort. I had a desire to explore my newfound love and passion for discipleship within the scope of Christian higher education, and Taylor quickly became a place that embodied discipleship in a way that I had never before experienced.

During my two years at Taylor (graduated in 2020) for the MAHE program, I served as the Assistant Hall Director in Wengatz Hall and loved the moments I had to invest and pour into the lives of the men who lived in and called the beautiful AC-less building home. After a year away from Taylor, I'm excited to be back on campus serving as the Wengatz Hall Director—a building and group of students that mean so much to me.

Responsibilities

• Lead a staff of 14 PAs
• Facilitate and plan events for the hall community
• Respond to students in crisis moments
• Build relationships with students through various avenues
• Oversee a graduate level student serving in the hall