There’s been a big change here at URI Magazine since the last issue. Nora Lewis, who served as URI photographer for 33 years, retired. During those 33 years, Nora shot thousands—maybe millions— of photos, earning the trust and friendship of generations of URI students, faculty, staff, and alumni with her sense of humor, positive energy, and endless patience.

Much of her work at URI involved photographing events, like Commencement and move-in weekend. She also did much of the photography for URI Magazine (and for QuadAngles before that).

I have many wonderful memories of Nora over the years, but one that stands out was a beautiful early-morning shoot at Camp Cronin in Narragansett. The shoot was for the cover of our summer 2019 “Blue Minds” issue, which featured stories of URI folks whose lives and liveli-hoods are tied to the ocean. The cover and the story were beautiful and stand, for me, as a testament to Nora’s talent and vision. Later that year, Time magazine did a cover that was remarkably similar to ours, and Nora put the cover up on our production wall with a note: “Time magazine’s got nothing on us!” The Time cover and the note remain on display in my office.

Nora Lewis on a 2019 photo shoot at Camp Cronin in Narragansett, R.I., where she shot the cover of our 2019 issue.

Nora Lewis at a rainy 2023 Commencement on the Quad.

In 2014, Nora earned the URI Foundation Staff Excellence Award. They noted “her ability to work with a wide array of people in all sorts of situations with her signature grace and strength,” and said her photos “capture moments and convey stories, usually on tight deadlines and under conditions less than ideal.”

We will miss you, Nora. We count ourselves among those lucky to have worked and laughed with you. You leave a legacy of kindness, positivity, and creativity.

I hope you will join me in wishing Nora all the best. Congratulations on your retirement, Nora! 

–Barbara Caron, Editor-in-Chief

PHOTOS: BARBARA CARON; MICHAEL SALERNO PHOTOGRAPHY