For more than 40 years, Robert Crew has regarded photography as an enjoyable avocation. And now, the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity alumnus will be permanently associated with the teaching of photography.

Northwestern State University is naming the photographic studio in the Mrs. H.D. Dear and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts in recognition of Crew. The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System has approved the naming of the studio. Crew, an alumnus of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, received the honor at a retirement reception held in the Orville Hanchey Art Gallery.

“For years I have been amazed at Robert’s photographic creativity and ability to capture a moment,” said Northwestern State President Dr. Randall J. Webb. “He has a love for photography and is enthusiastic about any opportunity to discuss photography and pass along some of what he has learned.”

Webb praised Crew for his honesty, integrity and career-long dedication to students. The Northwestern State president presented Crew with resolutions passed by the Louisiana House of Representatives and Louisiana Senate commending Crew for his years of service to the people of Louisiana.

Crew has been executive assistant to the president since 1997 and is retiring this month. He earned his bachelor’s degree at NSU in 1965 and his Master’s of Education at Northwestern State in 1968. A classroom teacher in Caddo and St. Mary’s Parish from 1965 until 1970, Crew worked in the Louisiana State Department of Education from 1970 until 1997.

As executive assistant to the president, Crew helped obtain several enhancements to Northwestern State’s art program and the photographic studio.

Crew had two displays on exhibit in the Orville J. Hanchey Gallery at Northwestern State in 2009, “Here Comes the Bride: Four Decades of Bridal Fashion and Portraiture” and “Places and Faces: Photographs of Louisiana Architecture and Characters.

Crew was official photographer at two inaugurations of former Gov. Edwin Edwards and was photographer for the Louisiana Teachers Association.

[This news release is from the Northwestern State University News Bureau/ David West]