Elaine Macmann Willoughby studied at the University of Rhode Island and the Teachers College at Columbia University; she also taught at the Teacher's College at Columbia University.
In the summer of 1951 she also attended the University of Rhode Island, and in the summer of 1953 attended the Breadloaf School of English at Middlebury College. She received her MA and PhD in Education from the Teachers College, Columbia University, from 1954 to 1957. She also taught at the Agnes Russel Center of the Teachers College while pursuing her MA and PhD. 
