“The inauguration of a new director is always a festive and expectant moment, and it is with particular satisfaction that we witness the renewal of leadership”, said João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA University Lisbon. Congratulating the newly appointed director, he highlighted the symbolic milestone of her becoming the first woman to lead the institution, and expressed hope that, “with everyone’s commitment, she will be able to take the school to a new level of excellence.”
Elected on 24 June, Alexandra Curvelo is now beginning a four-year term (2025–2029) during which she will prioritise strengthening the connection between teaching and research, promoting critical thinking and implementing a governance model guided by transparency and ongoing dialogue with the entire NOVA FCSH academic community.
At the ceremony held on Thursday, the 17th, at the Avenida de Berna campus, she emphasised, “We will do everything we can to ensure that NOVA FCSH becomes an even more socially committed and responsible faculty, with a national and international strategy, attentive to the debates and divisive issues of our times, inclusive and proactive.”
This was also the occasion when she presented her team: José Viegas Neves (Planning and Infrastructure), Carla Baptista (Culture), Helena Serra (Teaching and Students), Sónia de Almeida (Research), Madalena Resende (Internationalisation), Ricardo Campos (Communication and Society), and Leonor Medeiros (Curriculum Management).
A Full Professor in the Department of Art History, Alexandra Curvelo is a researcher at the Institute of Art History (IHA), which she directed from 2023 to 2025. Her research focuses on museology and modern art history, particularly the Portuguese presence in Asia, especially Japan.
