Identifying the challenges faced by teacher education as the global society becomes increasingly complex requires understanding the current contexts for teacher preparation while projecting what needs to be done to prepare for the future. In order to identify and address the challenges of today and tomorrow, the author contends that teacher educators first need to resolve a fundamental challenge to their profession--that is, to collectively define their purpose and mission. Once they meet the challenge of developing a collectively agreed-on sense of purpose and mission for 21st-century teacher education, relevant action will follow. These actions include: (1) engaging in research that creates a well-defined theory base to guide their ever-evolving practices in the field; and (2) working as policymakers and with policymakers to guide the profession at local and global levels.