Alexandra Nasharr recognized for museum work in Central Florida

Alexandra Nasharr, curator and collections specialist with the Osceola County Historical Society, is being recognized for her work preserving and interpreting Central Florida history through collections, exhibitions and community education. Her career blends fine arts, museum studies and public history, with a focus on making local history more accessible to broad audiences.

Why it matters: - Alexandra Nasharr’s work helps preserve Central Florida history for future audiences. - Her role connects collections care, exhibition development and community education in one public-facing museum job. - The recognition highlights how museum professionals turn archives and artifacts into accessible local history.

What happened: - Alexandra Nasharr was recognized by Influential Women for her work as Curator & Collections Specialist with the Osceola County Historical Society. - Nasharr works in Kissimmee, Florida. - Her job centers on preserving, interpreting and sharing the stories that shape Central Florida’s history. - The profile also points to her Influential Women page: Alexandra Nasharr’s profile.

The details: - Nasharr completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2012. - She spent seven years working in commercial and nonprofit art galleries in Chicago. - That experience built skills in exhibition preparation, visitor engagement, visual presentation and interpretation. - After the COVID-19 pandemic, Nasharr earned a master’s degree in Museum Studies at Western Illinois University in Moline, Illinois. - During graduate school, she served as a graduate assistant for two years. - She has spent two years with Osceola History. - Her collection work covers material from the mid-1800s through the 1930s. - The collection includes Seminole artifacts, historic photographs, family documents, agricultural tools and other local objects. - Nasharr curates exhibitions, writes blogs and editorials about local families, gives presentations to libraries and community groups, and oversees interpretive work at Pioneer Village. - Pioneer Village includes preserved historic structures that give visitors a direct look at the area’s past. - She works with a small archival team to turn research into public programs and exhibits. - Her sports exhibit, “Out of the Park: Osceola County Sports,” covered youth, high school and professional sports history, including the Astros. - Nasharr is a member of the Florida Alliance of Museums and the Iowa Museum Association. - She has also worked with Quad City Arts, Osceola Arts and Main Street programs. - She wants to continue her service to the field through a local historic preservation board. - Her mentors include Dr. Heidi Lung, program director of Western Illinois University’s Museum Studies program, and Angela McCallaghan.

Between the lines: - Nasharr’s career shows how fine arts training can translate into museum interpretation and exhibition design. - Her approach emphasizes materiality, visual storytelling and the idea that objects can make history feel personal. - Her work also reflects a broader museum shift toward community engagement and audience access, not just object preservation. - Her focus on collaboration and professional organizations suggests the field depends heavily on shared best practices and mentorship.

What's next: - Nasharr said she wants to keep building her work in preservation and community service. - She is interested in serving on a local historic preservation board. - Her museum work is likely to continue centering exhibitions, collections care and public programming that connect residents with local history.

The bottom line: - Alexandra Nasharr’s career combines art, scholarship and community outreach to keep Central Florida’s history visible, usable and relevant.