This article examines motivations for faculty involvement in shared governance. Faculty members at a mid-sized, Midwestern university were surveyed to assess reasons for serving and leading in the shared governance process. Five predominant themes were identified as affecting faculty participation in university governance. The five predominant themes were: (a) within group generic tension, (b) committee member role clarification, (c) the significance of leadership, (d) challenges of the independent professional, and (e) meaningful change and organizational success.