Trained in biochemical genetics and microbiology, Gary Sojka began his academic career at Indiana University in Bloomington in 1967 as a research associate. Then as a teacher and researcher at Indiana, he progressed through the academic ranks becoming a full professor and Chairman of Biology and later Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1984 he assumed the role as the 13th president of Bucknell University, a position he held until 1995. Throughout his tenure as Dean at Indiana and President at Bucknell, he continued to teach courses in microbiology, microbial biochemistry and general biology. After his tenure as president, Gary continued at Bucknell as a faculty member in the Department of Biology. Gary and his wife, Sandy, operate a rare breeds conservancy farm in Middleburg, Pennsylvania where they raise Tunis sheep and Cuckoo Dorking chickens. He is serving as the Chairman of the Board of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and is a Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. He holds an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Lycoming College and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Purdue University in addition to his earned BA from Coe College and his earned MS and PhD degrees from Purdue University.