Ann Sodja

On December 8, 2022 we lost a special member of our Union and Academic community, Ann Sodja, an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. Ann retired from Wayne State in 2020 after a 38 year career. When she joined Wayne State University, Ann was the sole woman in her field for a while and faced numerous challenges related to gender and equity issues. However, her petite stature in no way hindered her fiery spirit to fight for Union issues through her career. In her field, she tackled a number of problems in insect physiology working with fruitflies and later mosquitoes, requiring a deep knowledge of molecular biology and chemistry. Over her career, she directed more than 100 undergraduate students and nine graduate students.

When I met her in 2016, she would stop by the Union office every couple months to connect with staff and attended most Union events. I found her to be a kind person as well as a good listener. That didn’t discount that she was a fighter and constantly wanting to help others based on her experiences at WSU.

Markus Friedrich shared this: “a picture I was lucky to take of both Bob [Arking] and Ann in 2021, these two smiles will be greatly missed… at Chartreuse, where she had found a second home.” Bob served for several years as Grievance Coordinator for AAUP-AFT 6075 (“WAU”).

Also shared by Markus and other biology department colleagues:

• A priceless WDET interview with her in 2015: “What it’s Like to be a Refugee”

• Ann founded an award in her late husband’s name at UCLA, a biochemistry faculty member from 1970 until his death in 1997: "The John M. Jordan Memorial Award for Creative Scholarship will be bestowed annually to a graduate student who exhibits outstanding potential for research and/or teaching creativity." (University Archives, The Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley)

Ann had a beautiful spirit and may we continue to build our union in her image and memory.

Rest in Power Ann!