Elaine Replogle graduated from Earlham College in 1989; she double-majored in Spanish and Human Development and Social Relations.  She completed a Masters in Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School in 1994, in which she focused on the intersection of faith and public policy.

She worked for Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) from 1992-1995, writing a short book on the community-building aspects of Head Start, contributing research to other HFRP books and articles on school evaluation and family support programs, and revamping their publications department.  She then worked at the (now defunct) Center for Social and Community Relations, affiliated with the Rutgers University School of Social Work.  There, she was part of a research team interviewing families affiliated with the Camden, New Jersey Head Start program. 

In 2005 Professor Replogle received her Ph.D. in sociology from Rutgers University.  Her dissertation explored the identity and mental health of second generation South Asian-Americans.  Recently she published articles in Sociological Forum and co-edited a book, Debates on US Immigration (Sage, 2012).  She has also been named one of the “50 most active sociologists on Twitter.”