Sonja Egenes holds a B.S. degree from Iowa State University and furthered her education with a Fulbright scholarship in Norway. She began her career as a teacher, instructing at both Randall High School and Iowa State University. Egenes transitioned into politics, serving multiple terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. Her professional background includes significant experience in education and public service, marked by a notable policy stance during the Iranian Revolution.

Sonja Egenes's political career is marked by an intriguing blend of internationalism and stringent nationalism, particularly evident in her controversial stance on education during the Iranian Revolution. Her decision to propose cutting off student aid to Iranians in Iowa, resulting in their expulsion, highlights a rigid approach to national security that clashes with her international experience. This unexpected convergence of global exposure and insular policy decisions reveals a complex ideological framework. Egenes's rhetorical style likely emphasizes regional stability and security, though the full extent of her strategic philosophy remains to be explored.