Robert "Bob" C. Taylor was born April 17, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Frank C. and Bessie T. Taylor. Taylor served in the United States Coast Guard from March 1945 to May 1946. He was a German-reading specialist. He then attended the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he received a bachelor's degree in speech in 1952. Upon graduating, Taylor went to Hollywood and worked as a staff assistant for the Howard Hughes Production company and as president of the Deseret Theatrical Artists of Hollywood Association until 1959. While working in California, Taylor married Katherine Cook, who was a model and an actress in several of the productions made by Howard Hughes. They had three children: Mark, Michael, and Michele. In 1959, Taylor was named as the chairman of the Brigham Young University Travel Studies Program, replacing Dr. Jay B. Hunt. Taylor was instrumental in obtaining permission to build the BYU Jerusalem Center and oversaw its completion. He worked for the BYU Travel Studies program until his retirement. Taylor passed away in 1995, and Katherine Cook Taylor followed him in 2003.

The Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies serves as the hub for Brigham Young University's study abroad program in Jerusalem. Brigham Young University students study and live at the Jerusalem Center during their stay in the Holy Land. Students study a core curriculum that focuses on Old and New Testament, ancient and modern Near Eastern studies, and either the Hebrew or Arabic language.

The Center itself is located on Mount Scopus overlooking the Mount of Olives, the Kidron Valley, and the Old City. The 125,000 square-foot, eight-level structure rests on five acres of gardens. The Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies contains dormitory and apartment facilities for students and faculty, cafeteria facilities, classrooms, gymnasium, computer facilities, library, various auditoriums and theaters, lecture rooms, and offices.

Funding for the center was raised in the 1980s, and the center was dedicated by Howard W. Hunter, then President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on May 16, 1989.