Mische graduated from Yale University with a BA in philosophy 1986 and received her MA in 1992 and PhD in 1998 from The New School for Social Research, both in sociology.
From 1987 to 1990, Mische was an Institute of Current World Affairs Fellow for study in Brazil,[2][3][4] which set the stage for her doctoral work and first publication.
She completed her dissertation on the political activity of youth activists in Brazil with guidance from Charles Tilly, Ira Katznelson and Harrison White.
[6] John W. Mohr states that, with this book, "Mische sets a new standard for how to conceptualize the dynamic analysis of an institutional field,"[6] and Ronald Breiger contends that "Ann Mische establishes herself at the forefront of research seeking solid foundations for a sociology of action and structure that takes seriously cultural projects and partisanship, networks and narratives, institutions and communicative action, and the creation and demise of publics.
The series is edited by Paul J. DiMaggio, Michèle Lamont, Robert J. Wuthnow, and Viviana A. Zelizer.