It’s never too late to come back. ‘Purdue Global was built for working adults like us.’

Flexibility was key for this couple who completed their degrees together

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – One of the most striking things about married couple Donna Cummings-Ripp (MS management and leadership – information technology ’23, Purdue Global) and Joe Ripp (master’s in business administration ’23, Purdue Global) is how proud they are of each another.

As they anticipated walking the stage together to receive their Purdue Global degrees, they recalled what it was like pursuing degrees at the same time while also juggling full-time jobs and multiple side gigs, and how the life ahead of them made it all worth it.

While many people want a degree to change their path, they wanted degrees to go further on theirs. Bettering their lives and others’ was always at the center. That’s because, although the two come from surprisingly different backgrounds, they both grew up in families that valued community and the importance of education, hard work, honor and stability.

“My parents valued education above anything else. They were all about me going to school, getting good grades and enjoying extracurricular activities,” Donna says.

She carried that inspiration all through her schooling, into her marriage, and it even sparked her interest in seeking an online master’s degree suited for working adults – 20 years after earning her bachelor’s. 

“It’s one reason why we both decided to go back to school,” she says. “We had good jobs; there was nothing wrong there. But being exposed to new things and having that drive to advance in our current careers with our current companies meant a lot to us.”

Read Donna and Joe’s story on The Persistent Pursuit website.

Media are welcome to share, post and publish these stories, photos and videos.

Media contact: Matthew Oates, oatesw@purdue.edu