Gwendolyn Purifoye received all of her degrees from Loyola and will miss the University dearly. “This gorgeous place has been my on- and off-again home since age 18,” she says. (Photos by Natalie Battaglia.)

Purifoye walks along Michigan Avenue on her way to catching the No. 147 Express bus to Rogers Park.

In addition to her studies and research, Purifoye is active in her church and has organized and taught community courses in several states to ensure young people’s success in school.