Co-Founder & Producing Director

Dan Swern is the co-founder and producing director for coLAB Arts in New Brunswick, NJ, engaging artists, social advocates, and communities to create transformative new work. Swern commissions new multidisciplinary creative work and artist residencies, and facilitates and commissions public art projects from mural and sculptural installation work to creative placekeeping efforts with local government and advocacy organizations. Swern’s verbatim theater projects have included two collaborations with journalist Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg: Life, Death, Life Again: Children sentenced to die in prison and Banished: Children on the sex offender registry. Swern is the creator, director, and designer of the Drama Desk-nominated culinary-theater project Shake & Bake: Love’s Labour’s Lost which ran off-Broadway in 2018. Swern teaches Creative Engagement for the Masters in Communications and Media graduate program at Rutgers University’s School of Communications and Information.

Instagram: @danswern

dan@colab-arts.org

Director of Education

John Keller has over 20 years of experience in theater performance and production, as well as arts education and administration, and socially engaged arts curriculum development. John is committed to creating projects that use the arts as a process to examine complex issues that affect community empowerment. While serving as Director of Education for coLAB Arts, John has developed educational residencies and teacher professional development in several central New Jersey schools. As a producer he has developed art for impact programming that center social science research in Domestic Violence Prevention, Transgender Healthcare, Immigration, Economic Justice, and Juvenile Justice System Reform. He currently teaches Theater for Social Development at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. John earned his undergraduate degree at Holy Cross and holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Acting from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Instagram: @jpkeller2003

jpkeller@colab-arts.org

General Manager

Jeff Key currently serves as a consultant with Nfinity Enterprises, providing website design, technology, and operations consulting to small and mid-sized nonprofits and businesses. He previously worked in the nonprofit sector for a number of New Jersey based education nonprofits serving students from middle school through college, with a focus on providing equitable access to educational services, after school programming, mentoring, and college counseling for students and their families. He currently serves on the board of the Center for Non-Profits and the National Board of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, focusing on work to address equity issues in the nonprofit sector and support projects advancing diverse and inclusive board and executive leadership. Jeff joined the coLAB Arts team in 2021 and is excited to work to support the organization's continued growth and capacity to take on more projects and community partnerships. Outside of his work with the nonprofit sector, he enjoys hiking, listening to interesting podcasts, discovering new music, and watching movies.

Instagram: @jskey_082

jeff@colab-arts.org

Communications Manager

To call Dontae T. Muse an artist, gallerist, art administrator, artist advocator, artist career coach, art business book author, community builder, and art marketing expert would be to leave out a few things. This Muse has earned his name by inspiring artists to apply their talents to align with their passions and purpose. Dontae T Muse, affectionately known as “D. Muse”, brings his background in business, management, and the arts to assist creatives in creating a brave new world. Dontae’s remarkable contribution to the Art community has allowed him to gain wisdom from the lens of both the creator and the business owner. His second book teaching others how to do the same, “Tripping Over Canvases: How To Become a Successful Artrepreneur” was released in December 2020 and his third, “The Introverted Artist’s Guide To Art Sales”, was recently released in October 2022.

Instagram: @iamdmuse

dontae@colab-arts.org

Development Manager

As a native to NY and joining our team as one of our newest staff members, Felix Reyes serves as coLAB Arts' Development Manager. His background experience in doing development work/grant writing spans for over 6 years, where he's worked with various arts/music nonprofits within the New York City area, some of who include critically acclaimed organizations such as Sō Percussion, Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Sandbox Percussion, Arts For All, Black Spectrum Theatre Company, among many more. Outside of his work in development/grant writing, Felix also is an professional artist/musician, where he runs two of his own chamber music ensembles, one of which is Pathos Trio, a two percussion and piano trio, where he serves as its Managing Director, and Symmetrio, an international percussion trio where he serves as their Artistic Director. Felix is currently based in Brooklyn, NY, and is a proud endorser of Marimba One keyboard instruments, Sabian Cymbals, Pearl Drums, and Vic Firth sticks and mallets.

Instagram: @felixmreyes

felix@colab-arts.org

Digital Archivist & Research Associate

Addie Gordon holds a Ph.D. in Art and Architectural History from Binghamton University. Having joined coLAB Arts in 2021, she utilizes the skills that she has developed during her time in higher education to help organize and manage the coLAB Arts oral history archive as the digital archivist and research associate. Her research is broadly interested in the social and political connotations of built space and material culture. Through her own research and projects, she advocates for the voices and avenues of exposure that are often overlooked by traditional forms of art engagement. Her interest in the public humanities aligns with coLAB Arts’ own engagements with community building and advocacy projects. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with fiber arts, specifically needlework, as well as baking and spending time with friends.

Spanish Translator

Carla Zurita graduated from Rutgers University in 2017 with a Bachelors in Art History and Psychology. She is currently the Education Coordinator at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick and is passionate about developing inclusive programming that values intergenerational community engagement. Carla contributes to coLAB Arts' accessibility goals by providing translation services as well as participating in ongoing oral history initiatives. In addition to her work at coLAB Arts, Carla further engages with the community as the Special Projects Lead at Sisterwork, a grassroots start-up based in New Brunswick. Her previous professional experience extends to curatorial and arts administration work at New York and New Jersey-based institutions, including A.I.R. Gallery, Johnson & Johnson, Hill Art Foundation, and Perth Amboy’s Surveyor General Office Museum. In her spare time, Carla enjoys learning more about present day abolitionist work, crocheting, and visible mending.

zuritacarlam@gmail.com

Graphic Designer

Emma joined the coLAB Arts team in July 2016. She coordinates with the producing director to develop and create specialized event posters, brochures, logos, and banners. Prior to her collaboration with coLAB Arts, Emma interned with Rutgers University Career Services during her junior and senior years of college where she gained valuable design experience. After she graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts in May 2015, Emma moved to Brooklyn and began her career as a designer working in both the print and digital spheres and is currently a Senior Digital Designer at Clinique. Her personal design style revolves around simple color blocking mixed with small details and typography, resulting in eye catching visuals. Emma is also passionate about photography, dance and fashion and loves to integrate those passions into her design work whenever possible.

Facilities Associate

Hannah M'Lynn (they/them) received their B.A. in Theater at Rutgers University and their M.S in Medieval History at the University of Glasgow with a concentration in Medieval Drama. They have been working with coLAB since 2016 as a stage manager, house manager, administrative assistant, and teaching artist. Primarily an arts educator, Hannah's work is led by a passion for stories about the things that make us human. Hannah is also the founder and producing artistic director of Blue Fire Theatricals, located in Bergen County.

hannah@colab-arts.org

Website Associate

Jace (he/him) is currently pursuing his BFA in Acting from Montclair. He is a multi-hyphenated artist/actor/director who is interested in the power of art to heal and connect communities. He started working with coLAB Arts in 2022 in the education department and is now working with the communications manager to implement website updates. Jace is also pursuing a creative writing minor in his undergrad and in his free time enjoys reading, knitting, and listening to music.

Instagram: @jaceeepastras

jace@colab-arts.org

President

Elise Brancheau is a professional vocalist with an eclectic career spanning opera, art song, choral music, musical theatre, and film scores. In 2013 she cofounded a boutique opera company that produced seventeen operatic and art song pieces by living composers in three years. Since then, she has been dedicated to working with composers and supporting the creation of new art, as well as supporting other nonprofits in a wide variety of roles. She has over nine years’ experience in development, event planning, communications, and project management with both arts and advocacy organizations. After first getting involved with coLAB Arts for the 2016 A Watershed Moment immersive project, she joined the organization as a Collaborator and later, in 2018, as a board member. Apart from her work with coLAB Arts, Elise regularly volunteers as a patient escort at a local abortion clinic and as a confidential sexual violence advocate. She graduated summa cum laude with her bachelor of music degree from Westminster Choir College and her master of music degree from Mannes College of Music.

Vice President

Nicole Brownstein spent 43 years working for IBM prior to her retirement. Upon retiring, Nicole began her transition and assumed leadership of the TrueSelves Support Group at The Pride Center of New Jersey. This eventually led to her becoming President of The Pride Center of New Jersey. At this time, Nicole met John Keller and together they began working on a project of oral histories revolving around the transgender community. Nicole continued working with John and over the years collaborated on a total of 3 shows which highlighted the challenges and struggles of the transgender community. After becoming a member of coLAB Arts Fund Raising Committee, Nicole was elected to their Board of Directors which led to her being chosen as coLAB Arts Vice president.

President Emeritus

Susan Kramer-Mills has been an ordained minister for over thirty years. She has worked in various positions both in New Jersey and Germany. Since 2004, she has served as the Executive Minister for the Classis New Brunswick. In 2013, she became the Executive Director of Town Clock Community Development Corporation, which provides long-term, affordable, safe housing and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence and their children. Rev. Susan was instrumental in leading the construction changes on the First Reformed Church, New Brunswick’s sanctuary in order to create affordable housing. The project, called Dina’s Dwellings, was completed in April 2016. In October of 2020, she led another housing project, the renovation of a single-family home on the same campus of the church. This project is called the Barbara Littman House. As Executive Director of Town Clock CDC, Rev. Susan manages the fundraising, oversees the programming and wrap-around services to eleven families, as well as promotes the work and mission of the organization through speaking engagements. Rev. Susan also served on the coLAB Arts Board for about ten years and sits on other community committees.