Staff & Board | About | Broome County Arts Council

Our Staff

Dr. Nancy Barno Reynolds

Executive Director

Dr. Nancy Barno Reynolds has been an active participant in the arts for more than 30 years, as a student, working artist, judge, curator, teacher, collector, and patron. Since 2018, she has served the Broome County Arts Council as their Executive Director, responsible for an organizational rebrand, overhaul in mission and vision, and creation of increased public programming, services, and membership. Through grant writing, Barno Reynolds raised over a half million dollars for the arts in Broome County and, in 2018, launched BCAC’s Artisan Gallery, an arts retail and exhibition space. In 2019, Barno Reynolds and the Broome County Arts Council introduced the first of an annual County-wide open studio and self-guided weekend, The Broome Art Trail, featuring over 100 artists and 54 venues.

Formerly, Barno Reynolds was the Director of Inclusive Adolescence Education at Cazenovia College and the Founder and Director of The Art School.

Barno Reynolds attended Binghamton University where she earned an Ed.D. in Educational Theory and Practice, an M.S.Ed in English Education (7-12) and Elementary Education (N-6), and a B.S. in Literature and Folklore, with a minor in Anthropology.

Barno Reynolds is a lifelong resident of Broome County, where she resides with her husband and four children. She serves on the Advisory Boards of the Susquehanna Heritage Area Commission, Binghamton Business & Arts Alliance, and more, advising on a number of educational committees as well. She is a recent Member of the Broome County Veteran’s Memorial Arena and Forum Theater Board of Directors.

Shawna Stevenson

Director of Programs and Marketing

Shawna has been a lifelong artist, and has earned her BFA from Syracuse University in Illustration, and her AAS from the SUNY Broome Community College Visual Communication Arts program.

Shawna has been involved in roles of community outreach since 2013, when she served a term in the AmeriCorps Clean Energy Service Corps. After volunteering as a volunteer coordinator for multiple non-profit organizations, she has sought opportunities to utilize her experience in communications and outreach to connect the community to local, beneficial resources.

Laura Sacco

Executive Assistant

Laura Sacco was born and raised in Binghamton, New York and attended Broome Community College and Binghamton University earning a Bachelor’s in English. She was the Public Program Coordinator at Roberson Museum and Science Center for three years, and moved into Digital Fundraising at SaveAround, working with numerous schools and organizations nationwide. She also has appreciated being able to give back to the community she grew up in by serving as a substitute teacher in the Binghamton City School District. When she’s not spending time with her family, Laura enjoys reading, eating at local restaurants, and listening to true crime podcasts. Laura resides in Endicott with her fiance.

Bella Seastrand

Sales and Marketing Associate

Originally from Binghamton, Bella recently earned her BA in Graphic Design from Binghamton University. She has worked within the arts, design, and nonprofits through her internships at the Tioga Arts Council and Binghamton University’s Music Department.

In her free time, Bella often works on freelance design, photography and videography projects for artists and organizations such as the band Driftwood, Binghamton University’s Music Department, the Anderson Center, and many other amazing local artists. Throughout 2020, she worked with Driftwood founding member Joe Kollar on his solo release Side Street, creating the album artwork and design, music videos, website, and social media content.

When she’s not working on projects, Bella can be found hanging out with her Golden Retriever, eating at local restaurants, or playing frisbee in the park.

Constance Barnes

Gallery & Retail Manager

Connie Barnes has been living and working in the Southern Tier for more than 40 years. Currently a founding board member of VINES (Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments) and a long-time board member of the Broome County Public Library, she also served as a founding board member of Binghamton Imaginink, an arts and science-based organization featuring the DaVinci Festival. As Executive Director of the Edward L Rose Conservancy, PA, she helped create the long-running semi-annual art exhibition Images of Susquehanna County.

As co-owner and event coordinator for RiverRead Books, she hosted monthly art shows and opened the doors for many author readings, poetry gatherings and music events. She looks forward to working with BCAC in the creation of another great ‘Third Place’ in Broome County.

Liam Axton

Gallery Assistant

Liam Axton is a photographer who recently graduated with his BFA in photography from SUNY New Paltz in December of 2018. Since then he has been creating personal photo stories and working on street photography in the Binghamton area.