New faculty members represent an investment of roughly $1.5 million for salary, benefits, and start-up package during the probationary period, and more importantly they determine the department’s climate, productivity, impact, and reputation for the next 3 decades. The rewards of successfully hiring and mentoring an exceptional candidate are great, whereas the penalties of failure are severe. Young assistant professors are full of energy and enthusiasm, which are powerful indicators of success when coupled with intellectual prowess and strong graduate and postdoctoral training. They are also under tremendous pressure, particularly at a top research university, where achieving promotion and tenure can feel like becoming a partner at a top law firm. Balancing work and home life is a challenge, especially when plans for starting a family have been postponed during the candidate’s graduate and postdoctoral studies. Faculty colleagues play a key role in the success of a new assistant professor, as their informal daily interactions are critical to helping the individual understand departmental, college, and campus policies, procedures, and priorities. An effective mentor committee, which typically includes tenured faculty members from within and outside the department, is also critical. The department chair or head must find the right balance between protecting the young faculty member and fostering his or her independence. Too much responsibility too quickly, in terms of teaching load, research expectations, or service requests, can lead to frustration and burn-out. Conversely, too much protection for too long can lead to isolation of the faculty member, as well as resistance or disenchantment several years later, when he or she is confronted with a heavier teaching load, significant service activities, and the expectation of a self-sufficient research program. We have tended toward the former – full and quick integration of the young faculty member into all aspects of departmental life, while trying to monitor the workload and commitments. Excellent time management and organizational skills are therefore essential, particularly as the individual transitions from a relatively unknown assistant professor to a highly sought-after speaker and collaborator.