This chapter draws on the wealth of scholarly literature on the academic profession to reflect on the intersection between the human experience and the transfer of knowledge at the global, disciplinary, and individual levels. Altbach’s contributions to this literature are highlighted, including his analysis of globalization and the “centers-peripheries of learning” framework. The discussion will also review the unique power and responsibilities that come with being in the academic profession, and how one professor with the right mix of personal and professional attributes can produce an array of positive impacts on the lives of countless others.