PCNW Staff

Terry Novak joined the team in 2012. She supports PCNW through community engagement, program development, fundraising, and leveraging resources that foster sustainability and elevate the photographic arts in the Pacific Northwest.

Novak has been a reviewer at PhotoAlliance in San Francisco and PhotoPlus in New York, co-juried the 2019 Pacific Northwest Viewing Drawers at Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, OR, and curated numerous exhibitions. She is chair of the Capitol Hill Arts District, leading advocacy and policy around creation and preservation of affordable spaces and resources for artists and arts organizations. She is also a member of the Fundraising for the Arts Task Force and served as a grant panelist for The Washington State Arts Commission. Novak received her BFA in photography from Columbia College Chicago, and an MFA from Seattle University. She has an affinity for analog color and alternative processes.

Mia McNeal’s journey with PCNW began in late 2016 as a student in Seattle University’s BA program. After graduating, she became a working artist, launching her own photography and videography business, and later becoming a PCNW faculty member. In 2024, she joined PCNW as Development Director.

As a passionate advocate for the photographic arts, Mia focuses on expanding public programming, enhancing fundraising, and strengthening partnerships. With a background in photography, arts education, and business development, she is committed to increasing access to the arts and driving PCNW’s growth and sustainability.

Jennifer Brendicke, born and raised in the greater Seattle area, is a graduate of PCNW’s certificate program, and has served in various roles at PCNW for over a decade including as an administrative associate, education and outreach coordinator, Associate Director and Registrar.

Eirik contributes to our vision as explored through our certificate program, continuing education, and public programs. Eirik is an accomplished artist and has exhibited his work nationally at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, and the Aperture Foundation in New York among others. He has received numerous awards, including the 2012 Neddy at Cornish Award in Open Medium. His work is in the permanent collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Seattle Art Museum, and the George Eastman House, Rochester, NY; two monographs of his work have been published and he is represented locally by the G. Gibson Gallery.

Originally from San Diego, Erin Spencer moved to Seattle in 1994, and soon after began a career in fine art photography administration. She was the gallery director at Benham Gallery for eight years, and joined the staff at PCNW in 2008 where she has served in various roles. In her current position of Public Programs Coordinator, Spencer oversees the logistics management of all PCNW’s exhibitions, from condition reports through framing, layout, installation, and return of artwork. She works closely with the executive director and manages logistics on a variety of public programs
Spencer has exhibited her own photography all over the United States and in the Czech Republic. In her spare time, she is busy either vintage treasure hunting, or out on the coast, transforming her late 1800s church into a funky second home.

Lilly received a BFA in Photography from the University of Washington in 2002. In 2004, she became one of the founding members of the Rat City Rollergirls and helped define their brand and marketing strategies. After a 10-year career in e-commerce photography with Nordstrom, Lilly joined the team at Glazer’s Camera during their transition into their new store to help them with rebranding and marketing efforts. In her spare time, Lilly likes to sew, knit, and garden.

Hailing from Vancouver, WA, Macsen spent most of his educational career studying analog photographic processes, eventually graduating from The Evergreen State College with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography. After a sojourn in Los Angeles working at a fine art photo lab, Macsen returned to the northwest to live in Seattle where he joined PCNW in 2020.

Sandy King was born in Oakland, California and was raised primarily on the small neighboring island of Alameda. She earned her BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she focused on film photography and digital inkjet printing. In Chicago, she worked at Latitude digital lab for four years before moving to New York to become a professional studio photographer. Sandy moved to Seattle in 2016 and started at the Photographic Center Northwest as a volunteer in their digital labs. She now leads their digital media labs and focuses on continuing the relationship between the digital and analogue realms of photographic output.

Bo was born and raised in the Issaquah/Sammamish area. As one of 10 brothers, he learned quickly how to get along with others. Bo moved rapidly through his schooling as a S.T.A.R. student and continues to participate in school activities. Bo enjoys landscaping, hiking, and is active in his community. He also looks forward to any photoshoot opportunities. Oh, and the other guy…he does stuff with numbers. And likes to play ball throughout the Puget Sound region.

Paulo Gonzales is a California desert born, Seattle based photographer. He holds a BFA in Photography from Seattle University. His work has been exhibited at the Vachon Gallery as well as the Photographic Center Northwest gallery in Seattle Washington. Paulo’s works mostly exists as self published books and zines and he exhibits them at festivals like Short Run and other outlets.

Originally from the Bay Area, Jake moved to Seattle in 2012 to pursue and secure a degree in photography from Seattle University. A dedicated analog photographer, Jake finds joy in the simple act of clicking the shutter. He has exhibited award-winning work in numerous regional venues including Love City Love, Northwest Film Forum, and Photographic Center Northwest. A photobook fanatic, Jake has self-published his own monograph as well as a handful of engaging zines, often exploring autobiographical narratives. When he’s not helping you at the front desk, you can find Jake gleefully skateboarding around town, enjoying a nice meal, or watching obscure, poorly subtitled French movies in his living room.

Twyla Sampaco is a color film photographer and self-published author based in Seattle, WA. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelors in Material Science & Engineering and did program managementy things at big companies until she stopped. She is a resident artist at Blue Cone Studios in Capitol Hill. Her photographs have been exhibited around Seattle at Vermillion Gallery, A-Gallery, Mutiny Gallery, the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, and at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. Twyla really wants to know if she can pet your dog.