Boeker Named to Head Institute of Americas

The Institute of the Americas, a La Jolla public policy research institution known for its work on Latin America, has named Paul H. Boeker, a career diplomat, as its president.

Boeker, 49, is a veteran State Department official who has held a variety of department posts, including two ambassadorships, since joining the foreign service in 1961.

Boeker served three-year stints as President Carter’s ambassador to Bolivia, beginning in 1977, and as President Reagan’s ambassador to Jordan, starting in 1984. He is also the ex-director of the Foreign Service Institute, a training center for diplomats and other government officers.

Boeker is scheduled to assume his post in June, replacing Joseph Grunwald, an economist and veteran diplomat, who announced his retirement last year.

The institute screened about 100 potential candidates before selecting Boeker, officials said. Among his attributes, they explained, were his range of experiences and his acceptance in both Republican and Democratic party circles.

The announcement of Boeker’s appointment was accompanied by statements of praise from a host of high-level officials, including Argentine President Raul Alfonsin, Bolivian President Victor Paz and U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz.

“Paul is an extraordinarily gifted man who was one of the stars of the Foreign Service,” said former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.

Boeker said in an interview that although it is principally known for its research on Latin America, the institute plans to expand its work to Asia and elsewhere.

“The mission of supporting democracy in this hemisphere and in the Pacific Rim appeals to me very much,” Boeker said.

Boeker is a graduate of Dartmouth College and holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan.

The Institute of the Americas, which is housed on the campus of UC San Diego, was founded in 1984 with the purpose of promoting democracy and improving communication between business, public and academic sectors on key issues facing the Americas. The institute is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization created with a $6-million grant from the Gildred Foundation, named after the Gildred family of San Diego.