We’re excited to announce the MCN 2026 Conference Co-Chairs and Volunteer Coordinators. As Co-Chairs, Colin Brooks, Isabella Bruno, and Alyssa Machida will shape the development of the conference program, bringing a wide range of experience in museum technology, strategy, and community engagement. Barbara Marin will serve as Volunteer Coordinator, and Sesthasak Boonchai will serve as Volunteer Co-Coordinator, supporting the many individuals who help bring the conference to life. Learn more about each of them below.
Conference Co-Chairs
Colin Brooks
Colin Brooks is a developer and creative technologist working to make art more accessible through code. As the Head of Digital Development at the Whitney Museum of American Art, he is responsible for the ongoing development of whitney.org and other public-facing digital products, and collaborates with artists, conservators, and curators as part of the museum’s born-digital commission program, artport. Colin has an MA in Art & Art Education from Teachers College at Columbia University and previously has worked in a variety of capacities doing youth outreach, and at a startup in Seattle.
Isabella Bruno
Isabella Bruno creates hands-on experiences at the Lab for Radical Museum Futures that teach people to strengthen their creativity and stay open to new possibilities, even when the future feels uncertain. Her three-pronged approach involves building imagination as a muscle for everyday life, embracing uncertainty, and spotting possibility as it emerges. She believes museums should be better public services that take care of both their staff and visitors—which is the best way to keep them thriving long-term. She’s tackled these challenges from every angle: working within the Smithsonian Institution, as an outside consultant, and as a partner with groups both big and small.
Alyssa Machida
Alyssa Machida is the Digital Product Manager at The Huntington in San Marino, California, located on the ancestral lands of the Gabrielino-Tongva and Kizh Nation peoples. She oversees The Huntington’s public-facing digital portfolio, including its flagship website, huntington.org. Before transitioning to digital product work, Alyssa built her career in museum education and interpretation, holding roles at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Harvard Art Museums, and the de Young Museum. MCN 2026 will be her fourth MCN conference. Outside of work, you’ll probably find her rock climbing and exploring mountains and deserts in the western U.S.
Volunteer Coordinator
Barbara Marin
Barbara (Mazer) Marin is an arts and culture lover with more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Barbara led fundraising teams at The Florida Orchestra, Ruth Eckerd Hall and American Stage, and was the Executive Director of The Studio@620, a multi-purpose performance and gallery space. She served in various roles for the Tessitura Network, the global leader in technology and services for arts and culture, including sales, marketing, consulting and client relations. She currently works in business development for CultureSuite, a powerful digital marketing platform designed exclusively for arts and culture venues.
Volunteer Co-Coordinator
Sesthasak Boonchai
Sesthasak (Seth) Boonchai is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and GLAM professional based in New Orleans. He currently balances roles as an instructor at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts and Digital Project Manager at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Additionally, he co-founded Pack/Peel/Pour, a premedia studio specializing in high-end reproduction photography. A former Board President of the New Orleans Photo Alliance, he also recently co-founded Sound Sanctuary (SoSa), an Atlanta-based non-profit dedicated to preserving and amplifying the cultural legacy of Black music through immersive, exceptional audio experiences.