David A Hollander

Teaching his first class at NYU in 2008, David Hollander is Assistant Dean of Real World and Clinical Professor with the Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport. One of NYU's most popular professors, Hollander is the recipient of NYU’s highest faculty honor, 2019 NYU Distinguished Teaching Award. He's also been recognized with highest NYU School of Professional Studies Honors: Award for Teaching Excellence (2018, 2012) and Award for Outstanding Service (2021, 2016) (only full-time faculty to win either award twice). Hollander's signature innovative experiential program Real World is one of the hottest programs at NYU partnering with over 70 A-list organizations like Nike, Porsche, Samsung. Axios called Real World "the future" of higher education.

His 1:1 humanities course "How Basketball Can Save the World" received international media attention including features from CBS News, SLAM, The Associated Press, The Washington Post and The New York Times.  In February 2023, Hollander released the book: How Basketball Can Save the World: 13 Guiding Principles for Reimaging What’s Possible (Harmony/Penguin Random House).  Hollander's book and course have become somewhat of an international movement. On Good Friday, April 12, 2022, major Italian media – la Repubblica, Corriere della Serra – credited Hollander and his class for helping sway the Vatican to recognize the first-ever Patron Saint of Basketball. On August 25, 2023 United Nations passed a resolution for "World Basketball Day" (December 21) inspired by a proposal for it in Hollander's book.  Hollander collaborated with the Philippine government to bring forward the resolution.

In 2025 Hollander founded The Sports Major Collective, leading a national movement of academics, athletes and business leaders to create an historic first-ever "Sports Major" in higher education where the performance of sport is central to the degree.

In 2020, he co-founded the NYU Sports Film Festival broadcast on SNY.

Hollander is a sought-after advisor to top brands in marketing, sports, entertainment, culture, and education and a featured speaker at top universities, sports organizations and leading corporations and non-profits like the NBA, FIBA, Red Bull, Nike, YMCA. He frequently comments in top-tier media including Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, USA Today. He sits on a number of advisory boards including for FIBA Foundation, espnW, The Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School, NYU Entrepreneurial Institute. Hollander is the author of four books as well as countless articles for major outlets including The Huffington Post; its first writer of sports.

A beloved NYC live event impresario from his days at the well-known Lower East Side live music venue Arlene’s Grocery, Hollander has produced critically acclaimed “indie” events. Hollander is the recipient of community service awards from NYCFC “Shirts Off Our Backs Award” (2018) and NYPD (2004) as well as Mayoral Proclamations from NYC (2009) and Denver (2011). He was named by the Museum of the City of New York as an Honorary Committee Member for City/Game exhibition (2020). Hollander served as CBS Sports Pride Month Ambassador (2021). From 2013-2024 Hollander enjoyed a special appointment as one of only 25 NYU "Faculty Fellows in Residence.

Publications

• How Basketball Can Save the World: 13 Guiding Principles for Reimagining What's Possible By Harmony/Random House (Feb 07 2023)
• The Sport That Can Save the World By NYU Journal of Politics and International Affairs (Mar 25 2019)
• Op-Ed Columnist By The New York Daily News (Apr 03 2017)
• The Long Game By Victory Journal (Mar 15 2017)
• The Check Heard Round the World By Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Feb 15 2017)
• Op-Ed Columnist By Cincinnati Enquirer (Aug 13 2015)
• Reluctant Hero: A 9/11 Survivor Speaks Out About That Unthinkable Day, What He's Learned, How He's Struggled, and What No One Should Ever Forget By Skyhorse Publishing (Sep 01 2011)
• columnist By The Huffington Post (Dec 01 2008)
• 52 WEEKS: Interviews with Champions! By The Lyons Press (Nov 01 2005)
• columnist By AOL Sports (Jul 01 2005)
• columnist By SI.com (Jun 01 2005)
• The Princeton Review The Best Law Schools By Random House (Jun 01 1997)
• In re Valerie D. The New Word on the Street By Quinnipiac Law Review (Sep 01 1993)