Dr. Wiebe Boer, the CEO of Shell-All On in Lagos, Nigeria, has been appointed as the 11th president of Calvin University, a private Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the United States. The Calvin University Board of Trustees accepted the presidential search committee’s unanimous recommendation of Dr. Boer this weekend. He brings a combination and depth of experience working across the private and social sectors in four countries in two continents over the past two decades.
The Board of Trustees launched its search for Calvin’s next president in summer 2021 by appointing a search committee with representation from faculty, staff/administration, students, alumni, the Board of Trustees, Christian Reformed Church, and the external community. The committee engaged AGB Search—a widely recognized search consultant in higher education—to support the extensive and rigorous international search process. Dr.Boer stood out among a diverse and competitive pool of candidates.
“Wiebe personally embodies Calvin’s mission with his unique life story,” said Mary Tuuk Kuras, vice chair of the Board of Trustees and chair of the search committee. “His academic grounding, strong sense of social justice, and depth of experience in the private and social sectors position him well to lead Calvin’s next chapter with creativity, drive, and humility. His understanding of Calvin’s past propels his innovative optimism for Calvin’s bright future, and he is prepared to roll up his sleeves and work collaboratively with all stakeholders of our Calvin community on that journey.”
Dr. Boer was born and raised in Jos, Nigeria to Christian Reformed missionary parents. Boer graduated in 1997 as a second-generation Calvin student and is married to Joanna Bachew, from Trinidad & Tobago, who graduated from Calvin in 2003.
Dr. Boer values his family’s historical connection to Calvin, and he also values the global perspective he’s gained having spent much of his childhood and adult life living and working abroad.
“Throughout the different countries and contexts I’ve served in, my focus has always been on creating impact, on making people’s lives better. So, to be called to help lead Calvin who is forming graduates to be agents of renewal is humbling,” said Boer. “I am excited to innovate and collaborate with a talented faculty and staff as we together pursue Calvin’s ambitious vision and articulate that vision in a way that gains momentum both locally and globally.”
“As a proud alum of Calvin University and a long-time fan of Dr. Wiebe Boer (starting when we were in the same elementary and middle school in Jos over 30 years ago), I couldn’t be happier about his moment,” said Danladi Verheijen, co-founder and CEO of Verod Capital, a leading private equity firm focused on Nigeria. “Given the current and potential future challenges facing Christian liberal arts universities, I firmly believe that Wiebe’s creative, yet fact-based approach to problem solving; leadership skills proven by his success across business, non-profit and academic endeavors; and passion for the development and success of others, especially students, makes him the ideal person to lead Calvin University at this time.”
Since 2017, Dr. Boer has served as Chief Executive Officer of Shell-All On in Lagos, Nigeria. He previously served with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where he was one of the founders of the strategy firm’s Lagos office. He also has served in executive level leadership roles with Heirs Holdings Group and the Tony Elumelu Foundation and worked in the Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, McKinsey & Company, and with World Vision Mauritania.
Dr. Boer earned a PhD and two master’s degrees from Yale University and a bachelor’s degree from Calvin, all in history. He spent one year studying political science at the University of Jos and completed his primary and secondary education at Hillcrest School, also in Jos, Nigeria.
His wife Joanna has a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of London and is currently the CEO of Empire Jane, a Nigerian soft home furnishings company. They have four sons.
Dr. Boer will begin his duties as president this summer and will be officially inaugurated in fall 2022.
