Chicago Botanic Garden Leadership

Jean M. Franczyk is president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden. She comes to the Garden after serving as the deputy director of the Science Museum in London, the flagship museum within the United Kingdom’s Science Museum Group (SMG). Across two continents and 15 years, she has held a series of leadership posts in museums and science education. In addition to her most recent role in London, she has also been director of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, SMG’s director of learning, and vice president of education and guest services at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Franczyk, who grew up on the South Side, returned to Chicago after 11 years in the United Kingdom. Here, she served as the chief of staff for the Chicago Board of Education; was a policy advisor to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; and managed a grant-making portfolio for the Chicago Community Trust. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a master’s degree in public policy studies from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

Paul Rafac is an EVP and CFO at Chicago Botanic Garden. He has worked as Finance Director at Will County, Budget Director at Illinois Department of Employment Security, and CFO at County of Dupage. Paul attended University of Chicago Booth School of Business between 1987 and 1989 and University of Chicago between 1981 and 1985.

Jean M. Franczyk is president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden. She comes to the Garden after serving as the deputy director of the Science Museum in London, the flagship museum within the United Kingdom’s Science Museum Group (SMG). Across two continents and 15 years, she has held a series of leadership posts in museums and science education. In addition to her most recent role in London, she has also been director of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, SMG’s director of learning, and vice president of education and guest services at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Franczyk, who grew up on the South Side, returned to Chicago after 11 years in the United Kingdom. Here, she served as the chief of staff for the Chicago Board of Education; was a policy advisor to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; and managed a grant-making portfolio for the Chicago Community Trust. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a master’s degree in public policy studies from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

Paul Rafac is an EVP and CFO at Chicago Botanic Garden. He has worked as Finance Director at Will County, Budget Director at Illinois Department of Employment Security, and CFO at County of Dupage. Paul attended University of Chicago Booth School of Business between 1987 and 1989 and University of Chicago between 1981 and 1985.