Pam Franzen, '75: A Life of Global Perspective and Local Impact
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Pam Franzen (right), '75, smiles with NIU roommate Kathy Forsythe (left), in a photo taken by their third roommate, Patricia Edwards. All three were art majors at the time, with Franzen initially pursuing a double major in art and fashion merchandising before choosing fashion merchandising. (Photo: Patricia Edwards)
Pam Franzen, ’75, grew up traveling the world, absorbing cultures and customs that would shape her worldview and career. When her father, the late Daniel Wit, Ph.D., accepted a position as a professor of political science at NIU, she discovered a community that felt like home thanks to the university’s diversity and academic vibrancy.
Wit was no ordinary professor. He was NIU’s founding chair of the Department of Political Science, the university’s first director of International Programs (now Division of International Affairs), and a co-founder of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies. His work helped establish NIU’s global academic presence, and his influence extended far beyond the classroom. Franzen’s mother, Phyllis Wit, also forged her own path at NIU, earning an M.A. in audiology in 1968 with a specialization in aphasia.
Before Wit laid the foundation for NIU’s global reach, he laid the foundation at home—stamping Franzen’s childhood passport and broadening her perspective.
“My parents said I had traveled around the world twice before I was in the first grade,” Franzen said. “When my father got involved in Southeast Asian politics, we moved to Thailand so he could work for a company supporting governments in developing countries. After a few years, we returned to the U.S. and moved to Indiana before coming to DeKalb, which became my first permanent residence.”
Franzen attended NIU’s former university lab school in Gabel Hall through eighth grade and graduated from DeKalb High School at the age of 16. Driven by a love for art, she began auditing art classes at NIU that summer but ultimately majored in fashion merchandising.
“I worked at a clothing store near The Junction (Eating Place),” she said. “I had a work permit at 15 and just always loved it. My mom wanted to be a hat model when she was growing up, so we were always into fashion, and it seemed like art and fashion went together.”
Franzen's time at NIU was marked by memorable professors and experiences, including marketing classes with John McNamara—famous for the M&M slogan “It melts in your mouth, not in your hands”—and art studies with Mahboob Shahzaman, Ph.D., a master weaver.
Franzen’s international upbringing continued during college, including a stint in Salzburg, Austria, where she studied art while her father worked with NIU’s International Program. During her father's sabbatical from NIU, Franzen attended the American School in The Hague, while he taught at the Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands.
Her Yorkville, Illinois, home today is full of art collected from NIU faculty and Franzen’s travels.
“There are a lot of NIU memories around my house; it’s part of who I am,” she said. “NIU afforded us (my family) a lot of opportunities to go overseas, building tolerance and knowledge of other people’s cultures. I have been on the USS Enterprise, to NATO headquarters, and met kings and queens. I wouldn’t have been blessed with all those opportunities if it weren’t for my dad’s work at NIU.”
Still, Franzen is grounded in her Midwestern roots. Though she had many exceptional experiences abroad, she was just as comfortable in the cornfields of DeKalb. Her adaptability is part of what makes her storytelling so compelling, and it's a trait she shares with her father, who compiled his own tales into a book titled “That Reminds Me: Fifty Years of International Happenings.”
Pam Franzen (right) embraces cultural experiences with her family during a costume photo session in Holland, 1967. Left to right: Frederick Wit, '80, Phyllis Wit, M.A. '68, Daniel Wit, Ph.D., and Pam Franzen, '75. (Photo: Pam Franzen)After graduating, Franzen entered sales and later transitioned into the insurance industry, where she thrived for over four decades. Her roles included executive vice president at MVP Financial Services, regional vice president at Prudential Financial, and senior vice president at Capitas Financial.
“My international experiences made me feel comfortable in any situation,” she said. “I’ve worked with people from all backgrounds, and that adaptability has been key.”
Franzen shared her passion for education with her two children, Erik Franzen and Elise Nolan, both of whom are now elementary school teachers—Erik in Florida and Elise in Illinois, who also attended NIU.
Now semi-retired, Franzen focuses on giving back—especially to NIU. She contributes to the Daniel Wit Scholarship Award in the School of Public and Global Affairs. She also volunteers with the Braven program, mentoring students and sharing her career wisdom.
“I remind young people that college is about learning as much as you can,” she said. “You’re not necessarily making life decisions in those four years—you’re building discipline and discovering yourself.”
One student she met through Braven even helped her learn HubSpot, a marketing platform she was beginning to explore.
“There was no downside to the Braven program. The students are grateful, and I’ve learned from them, too.”
Franzen understands the power of coaching through Braven, having experienced its impact firsthand during her time at Prudential. She’s also inspired by a group of retired CEOs she met—professionals who now offer interim leadership and mentorship to companies in transition.
“It’s about not letting your experience go to waste,” she said. “In Southeast Asian cultures, elders are honored for their wisdom. In the U.S., we’re expected to retire and relax on a golf course or at the beach. The beach is still calling me, but I still have knowledge to share.”
For Franzen, retirement isn’t about stepping away but stepping forward—inspiring others with the wisdom gathered across both borders and decades.
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