sˈɪsən ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm oʊhˈaɪoʊ stˈeɪt wɪð ɐ bˈætʃəlɚɹ ʌv ˈɑːɹts ɪn ˌɪntɚnˈæʃənəl stˈʌdiz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti ˈeɪt ænd ɐ mˈæstɚɹ ʌv ˈɑːɹts ɪn pəlˈɪɾɪkəl sˈaɪəns ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti.
Sisson graduated from Ohio State with a Bachelor of Arts in international studies in 1958 and a Master of Arts in political science in 1960.