Support for Tony Apesos

I would probably have quit the program if Tony had not been my advisor.

Tony was a critical component to my personal success and engagement in the MFA program. I feel his departure would be a considerable loss.

need balance of artistic approaches

Tony was my advisor for 2 semesters and was an amazing teacher with incredible talent as a painter and true passion for teaching, going above and beyond to help us grow and gain knowledge of both contemporary and historical art to put our work in context. Tony is a cornerstone of LUCAD and I would hate to see him go!

Tony was a great teacher/advisor, and I would hate to see him no longer teaching at Lesley

Tony is the reason I came to LUCAD, back when it was AIB. He is a key component of the program.

Tony Apesos was the person who met we me when i resubmitted my application to the program. With his encouragement and guidance i would not have re applied. I also had the pleasure to sit in his classes and gain much needed knowledge that only he could provide. Nayda Cuevas

Tony was one of the best mentors I had while getting my MFA. He truly cares about students and art.

Tony initially convinced me to attend this program in its infancy, and was one of the best in a group of thoughtful and varied instructors. He was also the only faculty member over the course of two years to give a practical, hands-on materials demonstration. I have now been teaching at the college-level (under grad and MFA) for ten years and still consider Tony one of my mentors.

Tony is special

I don't know the details of the recent termination, but I do know that Prof. Apesos was an integral part of my time at AIB, as well as a much needed voice, opinion, and point-of-view.

If it weren't for Tony, I would have neither stayed in the program nor finished it!

Updated: My initial reaction (one of shock, horror, disbelief) clipped the weight of what I really wanted to say about Tony. Anthony Apesos is a gem. To the core. A multi-faceted mind. A deft hand. A firm (yet philosophically gentle) guide. Of my personal experience across several universities, with multiple degrees to show for it, I’ve met a great many talented professors—but few as deeply committed, as insightfully connected and as rich in knowledge and character as our Tony. He isn’t a cornerstone, he is the foundation. He supports students, encourages unique growth, is lively and quick, sparkling and energetic--on behalf of the students, on behalf of the importance of art in contemporary society, and on behalf of the program itself. He is a fearless general attenuating to both the needs of each individual student, and to advancement of the whole--there's no bigger cheerleader out there. I’ve personally seen him encourage students that were ready to give up. He sat, shared, talked, strengthened--he paid individual attention, all the time. I had the pleasure of enjoying advisement discussions—long, mind-expanding dialogues that grew me as an individual, shaped my thesis as a project, and directed me in ways that are still revealing themselves with time. He is approachable, relevant, and ever-ready to provide reams of information. I treasure the bibliographies he shared and also pass them along to my own students, ensuring his teaching continues. I share a piece he gave me during my last elective seminar--each of us received a token of our time in the class--and I show it (and its conceptual importance) to each group of my own students. This is passable, shared knowledge. Tony cares about the program. He cares about each of us as individual, creative minds, and he cares about serving the university, about expanding and sharing his own independent research. He’s one of the few who can teach traditional techniques as easily as he can reach great depths of conceptual

Jack Booth mattered, John Kramer mattered, Tony Apesos matters. This program has an abysmal record of getting rid of important educators that matter and replacing them with "names" that don't. Stop it! We're not Yale, thank Christ! Richard Cutrona MFA 2009

Tony was an incredibly generous, genuine, and insightful teacher and advisor for me while I was at Lesley. He is a real art teacher, seeming to instinctively know what each student needs, being totally about the students, and giving well beyond the minimum requirements of the program. For me, Tony was one of the strong pillars of the program, and is one of the reasons I continue to recommend Lesley to others looking for a low residency MFA.

I truly valued those moments I spent learning from Tony as a student in the low-residency MFA program. He is a rare breed of both talented artist and passionate educator.

Tony was and is a tremendous influence on me as an artist, a thinker, a contributor to contemporary culture. He is the original program founder, and his importance to the program is unmatched. Letting him go would be a huge blow to the current student body, and to future attendees. It's unthinkable that he wouldn't be present until he is ready to leave on his own.

during the time i attended the limited residency mfa program at aib i felt that tony apesos was one of most knowledgeable and well rounded instructors there. i felt he was much stronger when it came to academic critical writing at the mfa level in comparison to some of the other instructors. his knowledge of history & hands on skills in many mediums gives him the ability to truly challenge, critique and advice students. tony possesses great perception, insight and social skills that enables him to truly empower students to evolve beyond all expectations. he's a keeper!!!!

I was at a crossroads in my MFA at AIB when Tony was my advisor. He pointed me to the texts that brought about a greater understanding of what my artwork was about and lead to a new direction. He is generous, humble, kind, caring, insightful, and wise: all of these qualities are rarely found in one instructor. He provides a different perspective and teaching style than the other faculty and this is one of the features that makes LUCAD strong!

As an MFA student Tony often gave me spontaneous critiques on his own time, suggested pertinent and valuable readings, and took genuine care in my progress at AIB despite the fact he was never my Advisor and I did not work in his medium. Tony is like glue for the students, nurtures bonds, and is always on the look-out for a student who needs a life-line. In an intense program like the AIB/LUCAD low residency MFA, you need a Faculty member who is not only talented and extremely knowledgeable, but a sensitive soul as well. As a current University Art Department Administrator I know how tight budgets are these days for the Arts. But I also know that a University's most valuable asset is its students, and Tony has always put ALL students first. Tony is the Faculty member that understands you win minds through the heart. Tony Apesos is an asset that Lesley cannot (and should not) afford to loose, for without him some students will feel lost and disconnected, and will not stay.