Trevor Shakiba (’03) and his wife, Christina, were honored at Foster Bonanza last week, where they were announced as the recipients of this year’s President’s Award.
The Shakibas have supported the university for years, a relationship that began when Trevor came to OKWU as a student in the fall of 1999.
“When I went to Oklahoma Wesleyan as a student, I had never heard of the Wesleyan Church,” said Shakiba. “But the mission statement aligns with what my wife and I believe in.”
Shakiba earned a degree in business administration. After college, he and his wife founded The Shakiba Group, a wealth management and financial planning firm. In 15 years, the company became nationally recognized for its commitment to customer service and comprehensive financial planning advice for its clients. In 2019, the Shakibas sold their firm to start Shakiba Capital and The Shakiba Foundation, where they serve as members of the foundation’s board. Shakiba Capital is a private equity real estate firm specializing in the acquisition and turnaround of apartment complexes in emerging markets.
Since his time as a student at OKWU, Shakiba has looked for ways to give back to his alma mater. For many years, he had an internship through the Chesapeake Energy School of Business. He had OKWU students come to his firm for a semester to work and learn firsthand skills. He ended up hiring two of his interns for full-time positions.
Shakiba also served on OKWU’s Board of Trustees for seven years before recently stepping down from that role.
“Trevor and Christina are tremendous friends of Oklahoma Wesleyan University,” said President Jim Dunn. “Trevor faithfully served on the Board of Trustees, offering solid wisdom and direction for the university. I love their passion for honoring Christ and pouring into their children.”
