Gary Greenberg received his BA and MA in Music from Stanford University, where he began to work in Computer Music, and received his PhD in Composition from Harvard University. While at Harvard, he was a Research Assistant for Jeanne Bamberger at MIT in the LOGO Children's Learning Laboratory and the Division for Study and Research in Education.

He taught in the Music Department at Yale University and in the Creative Arts Education Program of the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University, where he directed the Computing Learning Resource Center. He worked with public school teachers learning to use computers and develop activities to integrate the computer into the curriculum.

He came to Northwestern in 1985 to teach in the School of Music, where he developed an object-oriented compositional programming environment that he used to teach computer music composition, music theory, and a creative arts approach to computer programming. Gary later became Manager of the ACNS (Academic Computing and Network Services) Advanced Technology Group, which worked with faculty to develop ways of using emerging technologies in instruction and research.

As Executive Director for Teaching and Research Initiatives for Information Technology, Gary worked on special projects to develop opportunities for using information technology to enhance instruction, research, and administration at the University. Gary was also director of the Collaboratory Project, which has created a Web-based collaborative environment that K-12 teachers use to develop innovative, project-based activities that are aligned to Illinois Learning Standards.