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SPRING 2026 ISSUE 13
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY • OFFICE FOR RESEARCH & SPONSORED PROGRAMS
The Grant Seeker
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HOFSTRA
A SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE IN GRANT DEVELOPMENT BY A HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE
Alexandra "Sasha" Giordano
Ms. Alexandra "Sasha" Giordano is director of the Hofstra University Museum of Art (HUMA), where she leads a dynamic academic museum dedicated to expanding access, representation, and interdisciplinary learning. She earned her Master of Arts in Art History from CUNY Queens College, where her thesis examined Constantine's Rome through the mosaics of Santa Costanza. She joined Hofstra as an adjunct professor in 2014 and became director of the Museum in 2020. In 2024, she received a citation from then U.S. Rep. Anthony D'Esposito in recognition of her dedication, compassion, and leadership in the arts, further contributing to the vibrant academic environment of Hofstra, which was recently designated a Carnegie R2 research university in recognition of its growth in high-level research activity. Ms. Giordano's work centers on the civic, social, and educational responsibility of an academic museum in an era of digital oversaturation. She champions authentic, object-based learning experiences that connect students and community members with art and material culture in meaningful ways. Through thoughtfully curated exhibitions and innovative programming, she fosters close observation, documentation, and critical inquiry, skills that extend far beyond the gallery walls. "Art, artifacts, primary source and archival documents, architecture, and sculpture contain rich layers of meaning," she explains. "Maximizing access and representation allows us to better understand each other and our global society."
Access and representation remain at the core of her vision. Through grant-supported initiatives, the Museum delivers equitable, interdisciplinary art experiences at low or no cost, ensuring that diverse communities see themselves reflected in the visual narrative. As a bridge between the University and the broader community, HUMA strengthens civic and cultural connections and amplifies historically underrepresented voices, not only in the works exhibited, but in the communities invited to participate in storytelling and dialogue. Ms. Giordano has successfully secured funding from organizations such as the New York State Council on the Arts, New York Community Trust Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Huntington Arts Council, and Greater Hudson Heritage Foundation. These grants have supported collection stewardship, major exhibitions, and transformative education programs such as Art Travelers Through Time: Literacy and History through Art. Funding has enabled the Museum to provide free or deeply discounted programs to underserved school districts and community partners, ensuring that students encounter works of art that reflect their identities and envision themselves on a college campus. Students are central to the Museum's mission. Each semester, HUMA partners with faculty across disciplines and supports more than 20 University classes through object-based instruction. Approximately 15 undergraduate students from diverse academic programs serve as gallery assistants, while graduate assistants and education students contribute to research, programming, and communications initiatives. The Museum's graduate curatorial assistantship and new undergraduate internship program provide hands-on experience in exhibition research, writing, and collaboration with contemporary artists. Ms. Giordano takes pride in seeing students pursue competitive graduate programs and internships at leading institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; and National Gallery of Art.
UNIVERSITY
Ms. Giordano's path to museum leadership began with an internship at a New York City art gallery during her senior year of college, followed by professional roles in the gallery world and at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. These experiences instilled a commitment to excellence and professional rigor, standards she now strives to model for students. Reflecting on her career, she often draws inspiration from Rose Valland, the French art historian who courageously documented the Nazi theft of artworks during World War 11 and helped recover countless cultural treasures. Valland once described her mission as working to "save some of the beauty of the world" - a sentiment that resonates deeply with Ms. Giordano's own dedication to ethical stewardship, education, and public engagement. Through her leadership in grant seeking, exhibition development, and student mentorship, Sasha Giordano continues to strengthen the Hofstra University Museum of Art as a vibrant center for learning, dialogue, and cultural engagement. We proudly commend her for her outstanding success in advancing grant-supported initiatives and her enduring dedication to expanding access to the arts for students and the broader community.
_ove Is the Message �
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Team Love: Erik Sumner, art teacher, Northern Parkway Elementary School; Robert "Dupreme" Eatman; Dr. Bilal Polson, Principal, Northern Parkway Elementary School; Sasha Giordano, director, HUMA; Jamel Shabazz, artist. Love Is the Message: Photography byJamel Shabazz exhibition and programming funding provided by New York Council for the Arts, The Huntington Arts Council, and The New York CommunityTrust Foundation.
Hofstra thanks you! Your scholarly achievements enhance Hofstra's reputation as a leading educational institution. If you are interested in pursuing a grant opportunity or have any questions, please contact ORSP at 516-463-6810.