In this article, the author looks back at the academic profession in the 20th century, as it was shaped by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, by key higher education associations situated at One Dupont Circle in Washington D.C. ("Dupont Circle" became the collective name for these associations), and by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Then, the author looks to the 21st century--not to extrapolate a past trajectory but rather to explore future possibilities that counterbalance some of the unintended "effects" of earlier developments. (Contains 9 resources.)