MacNeill was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, a suburb in greater Boston, and studied at the Philadelphia College of Art, the Massachusetts College of Art and received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1976. She was introduced to glassmaking at the Massachusetts College of Art where she also met her husband, glass and metal sculptor Dan Dailey. She has taught in glass and sculpture programs including the Pilchuck Glass School, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, Philadelphia College of Art, Waterford Crystal and the Miasa Center and Niijima Glass Art Museum in Japan. MacNeil sets great store by the "wearability" of her pieces as well as on perfect execution.
