Reilly McDonald has a Bachelor of Science degree in Historic Preservation from Southeast Missouri State University, where she graduated with distinction in 2023. Prior to joining SHSMO in November 2025, she was an intern at the St. Louis Research Center and worked as an archive's technician with the National Archives and Records Administration. Reilly is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science degree with a concentration in Archival Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.