Individuals, institutions and organizations that are committed to the quality, long-term research productivity of academics need to view the post-tenure period as a critical turning point. Continuing to engage mid-career faculty in research when the immediate need for publication has decreased is one of the key issues that should be addressed to sustain and increase quality scholarship from within an institution. Reasons for faculty involvement in research are explored in this paper with particular attention to the tension between competing identities (teacher versus researcher; practitioner versus researcher), an especially salient issue for female academics. Contextual factors and challenges that impact research longevity such as type of institution and teaching load are also explored. This paper concludes with a discussion of some ways to support mid-career researchers to increase the chances of their continued productivity.