Most colleges and universities have a tripartite mission composed of teaching, research, and service. For faculty seeking tenure, though, this mission can seem very heavily weighted toward research. In fact, the phrase "publish or perish" is widely understood both inside and outside the academy as the primary path to a successful career in higher education. In this article, the author hopes to provide a picture of what it is like to be an African-American female on the tenure track attempting to juggle the many challenges of university life with personal, professional, and community responsibilities.