She spent most of her academic career creating and building programs at the UW Tacoma campus, focusing on access to university for underserved students. She designed and was the inaugural director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership (Ed.D).  Her teaching, research, and writing have a developmental focus and are centered upon leadership. Dr. MacDonald’s co-authored book (with Dr. Lawrence Brammer), The Helping Relationship: Process and Skills, is in the eighth edition. Her personal mission statement reads: “A Facilitator of Growth: To help individuals and institutions grow and change in the way that is best for them, always striving for positive social benefit”.