Mark Sokolsky's research examines Russian and Soviet colonization in the Far Eastern region known as Primor’e (or the Maritime Territory) between 1860 and 1940. The project focuses on the relationship between colonization, environmental change, and conservation in the territory, and the ways in which national and ethnic tensions undergirded the Russian approach to ecological questions. He is co-editor of Readings in Water History (2020).

Mark Sokolsky has worked at Royal Military College of Canada since 2020, first in the Division of Continuing Studies and with the RMC Teaching and Learning Group and Writing Centre. He holds a PhD in History from Ohio State University, and previously studied at the University of Toronto and McMaster University.

Before coming to RMC, he worked in student support roles at Queen's University and St. Lawrence College; taught history at OSU and Colby College; guided kayaking tours on the St. Lawrence; edited manuscripts; delivered the mail; and taught newcomers in English as an additional language. He is committed to education in its fullest sense and to helping students develop the skills, resilience, and competence needed to succeed in demanding environments and serve with integrity.