She earned her bachelor's degree from Vermont College in 1982. Van Wagenen continued her academic journey at New York University, where she earned a master’s degree in public history in 1984. She went on to complete her PhD in American History at NYU in 1995. Her doctoral dissertation was eventually published in 2003 as the book Sister-Wives and Suffragists: Polygamy and the Politics of Woman Suffrage, 1870–1896. In recognition of her scholarly achievements, she received the Distinguished Alumnae Achievement Award from NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 2012.

Environmental Activism and Consumer Advocacy

In 1970, Lola Van Wagenen co-founded Consumer Action Now (CAN), a nonprofit organization established to educate consumers on how their purchasing choices impact the environment. She served as co-chair for a decade, delivering public lectures and appearing on television to raise awareness about environmental issues.

As part of her work with CAN, she helped launch the monthly CAN Newsletter, which focused on consumer education and advocacy. She regularly contributed articles to the publication until it ceased in 1973. In 1972, she organized the Environmental Action Forum, bringing together activists and consumers to hear from leaders in environmental and civic organizations.

CAN’s advocacy contributed to the passage of significant environmental legislation in 1976, including the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Alternative Energy Initiatives

From 1975 to 1977, Van Wagenen developed The Sun Fund, a program aimed at educating the public about alternative energy sources and energy conservation. This initiative led to the production of The Solar Film, a short film promoting solar energy, and "SunDay," a three-day national television campaign featuring prominent speakers advocating for renewable energy solutions.