If there’s one thing Taylor students do well, it’s championing their places of residence and the names those buildings bear. As additional housing options are added to campus, students have even more opportunities to celebrate the legacies they represent.
Homecoming celebrated two new additions to the Residential Village that borders the south side of campus. Brolund and Jacobsen Halls have recently joined the line of legacy left by the namesakes of the other five townhomes: Kerlin, Robbins, Flanigan, Gygi, and Chiu.
Named for seven influential Taylor Board of Trustees members and their families, these homes serve not only as a housing option on campus but a testament to the commitment, excellence, and impact of those who have come before.
Brolund Hall is named in honor of Theodore “Ted” Brolund, member of the Board of Trustees from 1983-2006 with two years as Vice-Chair. Having served many years in the manufacturing industry, Brolund was president of Washington Whitney Corporation and was involved with several charitable organizations. He was known to have a close friendship with former Taylor president, Jay Kesler.
Jacobsen Hall stands in memory of V. Donald “Don” Jacobsen, a Taylor graduate of 1953 and member of the Board from 1974-2006. He spent time as Chair of the Board from 1981-1984 and is the recipient of the Distinguished Parent (1981) and Distinguished Alumnus for Service to Taylor (2003) awards. Jacobsen spent 30 years at AT&T as well as served in various ministry roles. Many Jacobsen family members have since attended Taylor.
Kerlin Hall commemorates Grace Roselyn “Rosie” Kerlin, who graduated from Taylor in 1955 and served as a member of the Board from 1984- 2009. Kerlin was the first woman to serve as Board Chair, a role she fulfilled from 1996-1999, and is the namesake of the G. Roselyn Kerlin Women in Leadership Award. Having spent many years as an elementary school teacher, many knew her to be a woman of great faith, kinship, and loyalty to Taylor.
Robbins Hall is named for Paul D. Robbins, a 1960 graduate of Fort Wayne Bible College, which would later become Taylor University’s Fort Wayne campus. A Board member from 1992-2007, Robbins served in several roles, including Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Chair. He received the Taylor University Legion of Honor in 2005 and is the retired President and Publisher of Christianity Today International, where he faithfully worked for 30 years.
Flanigan Hall honors Kenneth P. Flanigan Jr., a 1966 graduate and member of the Board from 1987-2015, where he served as Chair from 2002-2006. Flanigan was a salesman on Wall Street for 30 years before spending 10 years with The Evangelical Alliance Mission and another 10 years as the Executive Vice President of Christianity Today International. Kenneth and his wife, Bette, are avid travelers and have hosted more than 27 students in their home over the years.
Gygi Hall is named for Richard “Dick” W. Gygi, a 1967 Taylor graduate and member of the Board from 1991-2017, serving as Chair from 2006-2009. Gygi has served as president of various consumer product companies for over 40 years, is the co-founder of ThriftSmart and the founding Board Member of the Nashville SEA. He and his wife, Bonni, serve as marriage coaches with Built2Last and have had several family members attend Taylor over the years.
Chiu Hall commemorates Wellington Yu Chiu, a Taylor graduate of 1974 who served with the Board from 2000-2016, including time as Chair from 2015-2016. Chiu spent time in several different sectors, including information technology, banking, publishing, and investing. He was the director of the First American International Corporation and managing member of Chiu Capital LLC and Chiu Associates, LP. Many remember him as a lover of God’s Word and faithful prayer-warrior.
