MAGDA J. VASILLOV

Matthew Flaherty

Magda J. Vasillov was a photographer, art historian, and teacher who made her career at Hostos Community College. Vasillov was one of the few original employees who remained with the college into the 21st century.

After graduating from Wellesley College in 1955, Vasillov studied at the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, during which time she was selected for a research assistant position under renowned Art Historian Walter Friedlander. Vasillov left the Institute of Fine Arcs before completing her degree; in 1958 she married professional photographer Bill Vasillov. In the immediate years that followed, Vasillov gave birth to three daughters- Natasha, Susanna, and Marya. Shortly after the birth of their third child, Vasillov's husband suffered a heart attack and passed away, leaving her as sole provider. Vasillov returned to the Institute of Fine Arts in 1974 and earned her graduate degree in 1980.

While at Hostos, Vasillov served the college community in many different capacities. In 1970, Vasillov initially worked as the college's photographer and graphic designer in the media un it of the library. ln 1973, she was appointed Lecturer in the Visual and Performing Arts Department and received a Certificate of Continuous Employment in 1978. In 1981, she was appointed Assistant professor in the Visual and Performing Arcs unit of the Humanities Department. In 1984 she received tenure as Assistant Professor by way of B.H.£ Equivalency. Finally, in 1994, Vasillov received a full Professorship in the Humanities Department, after two and a half decades of service to the college community. During her long teaching career at Hostos, Vasillov mainly taught Photography and Arts and Civilization courses.

Vasillov participated in college activity throughout her decades of service. Her contributions to the college community included: Visual and Performing Arts coordinator; Hostos Art Committee chair; Aids Task Force member; Libera l Am Sub-Committee of the Curriculum and Instruction Committee chair; Language Integration Task Force, Hostos Senate liaison; and Hostos College Senate member. As chair of the Hostos Art Committee, Vasillov and committee members recommended three commissions to celebrate the opening of the East Academic Complex, including a wall-hanging for the Allied Health complex atrium, panels in the East Academic Complex plaza gates, and a large metal sculpture on the touch facade of the 500 building.

Vasillov was also a lively scholar. She participated in various lectures and exhibits; most notably, she was Guest Curator of a show entitled, "Photographs Collected by Charles Darwin for His Study of the Expression of the Emocion5," at Cambridge University in England. She published several scholarly articles and delivered a conference lecture based on the project at Soprintendenza al Museo National Prehistoric Ethnographic " L. Pigorini," in Rome, Italy.

Vasillov abo cook time from her busy schedule co volunteer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. As a Chaplaincy Volunteer, Vasillov helped AIDS in-patients attend religious services at the hospital's chapel. According to Vasillov's Curriculum Vitae, her volume service at Memorial, "…derives directly from her commitment co Hostos and its deep concern for Al DS and its devastating effects on our community."

Throughout her long and fruitful career, Magda Vasillov never stopped identifying as a photographer. In fact, she wok on numerous photography jobs with various organizations as a freelancer and consultant throughout the years. Her passion for photography is evident in the thought, care, and perspective chat went into each image she captured. Her Hostos photograph and negative: collection, on deposit at Hostos Archives. exemplifies her life-long passion for the medium.

At Hostos Community College, Vasillov was respected and beloved by colleagues and the college community. In 2006, the college Senate voted to name the Center for Teaching and Learning, "The Magda Vasillov Center for Teaching and Learning," in memory of Vasillov's long successful career at Hostos. The center was dedicated in January of 2007, two months after her passing.