Construction was finished on Brandt Hall in August 2015. It is named in honor of former university president David Brandt, who served at George Fox from 1998 to 2007, and his wife. Brandt had big shoes to fill after the decade-long growth spurt the university experienced during Edward Stevens’ presidency, but he brought experience from five other Christian colleges with him and kept the university on another decade of growth.
Brandt was very invested in student life during his presidency. His wife, Melva encouraged him to spend time with students and he very often hosted meals with undergraduates in his home. Brandt was also involved in academics on a larger scale, joining the Council of Independent Colleges as well as the Christian College Consortium. He was one of 50 college presidents to be honored with a presidential leadership award by the Templeton Foundation for his commitment to character and development on campus.
Brandt oversaw the addition of 15 undergraduate programs and 9 graduate programs throughout his presidency. Two of those programs – engineering and nursing – are now some of the largest on campus. He also made marketing a priority by replacing the university logo, creating new recruitment materials, and redesigning the university website. He also created the first ever George Fox Serve Day in 1999.
George Fox expanded both its physical campus and enrollment during Brandt’s presidency. In 2001, the Stevens Center was built. In 2004, Wood-Mar Hall was renovated. And 2006 saw the renovation of Hoover Hall, construction of Le Shana Residence Hall, and the completion of two years of negotiations to purchase the eight-acre Providence Newberg Hospital property and building (renovated into the Villa Academic Complex and now rededicated as the Roberts Center).
Today, Brandt Hall is used as a residence hall for first-year students as well as upperclassmen, housing 149 students.
