David A Hollander

In his 15th year at NYU, 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 45 A-list organizations like Nike, Porsche, JetBlue, Ace Hotel, Samsung. Axios called Real World "the future" of higher education.

His only-of-its-kind 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 new 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! For his extraordinary efforts in that cause, Hollander was awarded a “key to the city” by the Mayor of Porretta Terme. On August 25, 2023 the United Nations passed a resolution for "World Basketball Day" inspired by a proposal for it in Hollander's book.  Hollander collaborated with the Philippione government to bring forward the resolution adopted by consensus and co-sponsored by an impressive 76 other nations from every continent on the globe. Basketball is the first team sport to get an official U.N. International Day, celebrated now every year on December 21.

He is a sought-after advisor to top brands in marketing, sports, entertainment, culture, and education. He frequently comments in top-tier media including Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, ABC News, CNN, Bloomberg, NPR. He sits on a number of advisory boards including for 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), Slate, Interview, and many others.

His animated graphic short story “The Check Heard Round the World” is archived in the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C. 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, a celebrated exhibition on New York City basketball (2020). Hollander served as CBS Sports Pride Month Ambassador (2021). Deeply committed to student life and well-being, Hollander is one of only 25 NYU Faculty Fellows in Residence since 2013, providing students from across the University with personally curated intellectual, cultural, and social programming.