Who plans, coordinates and leads the many events that occur on Taylor’s campus? These events are filled with emotion and lead to lasting memories, like Grandparents Day or Homecoming and Family Day.
These events largely owe their success to Brad Yordy, senior executive director for advancement. He not only plans and organizes these experiences and many more but also works to connect previous alumni back to the university. This can lead to opportunities such as having experts in the field returning to teach at Taylor.
“You would be surprised how many people come back and bring an expertise that someone doesn’t have here and it’s super beneficial,” Yordy said.
Yordy also serves on the town board in Upland. His main job is to facilitate conversations in a way so that different opinions are heard.
This may include being the mediator or leading other peers in meetings. Either way Yordy loves people and connecting people together.
“I connect people with people, people with opportunities, and then sit between people and facilitate those spaces.” Yordy said.
From serving as a lifeguard at Taylor early in his life to working with alumni and parents to connect them back to Taylor, Yordy is well acquainted with TU people, having lived the majority of his life in Upland.
After graduating from Taylor in 2005, Yordy moved to Florida and then back to Upland, where he worked at Eastbrook Middle School as the athletic director. He then felt led to return back to the place that influenced and shaped him so strongly: Taylor University.
“It’s often been said that Taylor runs off relationships and it's genuinely true,” Yordy said. “I still remember one of our friends got stuck in our driveway and the maintenance guys drove a backhoe over the next morning, hooked up a chain, and pulled it out because that’s what they do.”
Yordy attributes his return to Taylor as well as his continued work for the community to the genuine and humble environment in Upland.
He has always had a passion to connect people together and to serve as an intermediary between them. His role as director of advancement is an opportunity for him to do just that.
Yordy’s work is largely detail oriented, focused on operational planning and managing events, but what he really loves is the opportunity to see people connect and reflect on Christ’s faithfulness.
“I get this unique vantage point of sitting back and getting to watch us stay connected, and glean from amazing people that keep saying yes to what the Lord is inviting them into.” Yordy said.
Yordy has grown a lot to appreciate the people he works alongside at Taylor. He hopes he has become even more caring, empathetic and loving in the various ways he interacts with alumni and parents, ultimately becoming more like Christ.
Yordy’s love for people and building community is evident through his desire and motivation to make events at Taylor a place where Christ is seen clearly.
He uses this role to shine Christ’s love on the alumni and parents, and to meet people where they are, like Christ does for His children. What inspires him most is the faithfulness from God he sees in the lives of the parents and alumni he interacts with.
"(Working on events is) beautifully messy,” Yordy said. “It’s personal, professional, and spiritual, all put in a pot and stirred together. That’s what God intends.”
Yordy looks forward to hearing even more stories of God’s faithfulness at the 50th class reunion, among many other events he is planning for this next year.
