The purpose of this study was to understand the professional and personal experiences of female-identifying elementary music specialists within higher education. Specifically, this study sought to understand: (1) How do personal changes such as marriage and parenthood affect personal and professional lives, goals, and career trajectories for these elementary specialists? Six female-identifying academics were interviewed about their professional and personal lives, with particular emphasis on their experiences as women, their choice to have children, and the professional and personal relationships that compose the rich tapestries of the many responsibilities and roles that they must navigate. Five major themes emerged from the data: (1) finding a place of belonging within music education, (2) extrinsic and intrinsic support systems, (3) finding fulfillment in academic and personal life, (4) navigating multiple roles in higher education, and (5) compounding factors on professional and personal wellbeing. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]