This study details the experiences of new faculty in tenure-track positions without prior experience in academia beyond the post-doctoral level. Semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted using phenomenological methodology with six faculty members meeting the criteria at a mid-sized, public institution in the southeastern United States with a reputation for academic excellence and a Research 2 (R2) Carnegie classification. Findings highlight the tension found between subcomponents of professorial life and the continued struggles of minority faculty. Implications for future research are given, to include the need for a deep exploration of the rhyme and reasons of the tenure process.