Dr. McDaniel has been the director of the Riverdale High School Orchestra since 2012. Prior to RHS, she directed the orchestra at Charles Drew High School from 2011 to 2012 and the Clayton County Middle School Honor Orchestra from 2013 to 2015.

She received her Bachelor's degree in music education from Kennesaw State University in 2009 where she was appointed university scholar in music education. She received a Master's degree in music education from the University of Georgia in 2016 and her Doctorate in 2020. Dr. McDaniel is a member of the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, a recipient of the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Music Education Award in 2009, and a recipient of the STAR teacher award in 2017. She has studied conducting under Michael Alexander and John Culvahouse, Music Composition under Lawrence Sherr and Richard Dudas, and Double Bass Performance under the late Douglas Sommer of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to directing orchestra at RHS, Dr. McDaniel is an active composer, arranger, improvisor, and double bassist. She has also been involved in music education research, particularly in the areas of music perception and cognition, biomusicology, and the psychological connection between music and emotion.