Museum curator Alexandra Nasharr recognized by Influential Women

Alexandra Nasharr, a Curator & Collections Specialist with the Osceola County Historical Society in Kissimmee, is being highlighted for her work preserving Central Florida history through collections, exhibitions, and community education. Her profile underscores how museum professionals use research, storytelling, and public programming to keep local history accessible.

Why it matters: - Alexandra Nasharr’s work shapes how Central Florida history is preserved, interpreted, and shared with the public. - Her role connects museum collections to classrooms, families, veterans, and community groups through exhibits and programming. - The recognition also spotlights the growing visibility of women working in museums, preservation, and public history.

What happened: - Influential Women published a profile featuring Alexandra Nasharr, a Curator & Collections Specialist with the Osceola County Historical Society. - Nasharr works in Kissimmee, Florida, where she focuses on collections management, exhibition development, research, and community education. - Her profile highlights a career built across fine arts, museum studies, and hands-on historical work.

The details: - Nasharr earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2012. - She spent seven years working in commercial and nonprofit art galleries in Chicago. - That experience included exhibition preparation, visitor engagement, visual presentation, and interpretation of artworks. - After the COVID-19 pandemic, Nasharr pursued a master’s degree in Museum Studies at Western Illinois University in Moline, Illinois. - She also served as a graduate assistant for two years during graduate school. - Nasharr has spent two years with Osceola History. - She manages a collection that spans the mid-1800s through the 1930s. - The collection includes Seminole artifacts, historic photographs, family documents, agricultural tools, and other local materials. - Her work includes curating exhibitions, writing blogs and editorials, giving presentations for libraries and community organizations, and overseeing interpretive work at Pioneer Village. - Pioneer Village includes preserved historic structures that help visitors connect with the area’s past. - Nasharr says her fine arts background shapes her curation through materiality and visual storytelling. - She believes objects can communicate history in ways that feel personal and accessible. - Her work with schoolchildren, veterans, families, and other community members has reinforced her view that museums should be welcoming spaces. - One of her noted projects was the sports exhibition “Out of the Park: Osceola County Sports.” - The exhibit covered local athletic history from youth and high school programs to professional teams such as the Astros. - Nasharr credits perseverance, continuous learning, and professional engagement for her growth. - She is an active member of the Florida Alliance of Museums and the Iowa Museum Association. - Her community involvement has also included Quad City Arts, Osceola Arts, and Main Street programs. - Nasharr said she remains interested in serving on a local historic preservation board. - Her mentor, Dr. Heidi Lung, program director of Western Illinois University’s Museum Studies program, encouraged her to treat transferable skills as valuable across museum settings. - Nasharr also said Dr. Lung and Angela McCallaghan helped shape her approach to collaboration, feedback, and professional relationships. - More information is available through Nasharr’s Influential Women profile.

Between the lines: - Nasharr’s career shows how museums increasingly rely on staff who can bridge scholarship, design, and public engagement. - Her path from art galleries to historical societies reflects a broader reality in the field: skills often move across institutions more easily than job titles do. - The emphasis on community storytelling suggests local museums are trying to make history feel relevant rather than static.

What's next: - Nasharr said she wants to keep expanding her service to the field through preservation work and continued professional involvement. - Her focus on collections, exhibitions, and outreach suggests more public-facing programming ahead at Osceola History.

The bottom line: - Alexandra Nasharr’s profile highlights a museum professional using art, research, and community partnerships to keep local history visible and accessible.