Her parents were Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the United States during World War II.

[citation needed] MacDonald was actively involved in the connection of university campuses in New York to each other and to other developing portions of the Internet in the United States.

[3][4] MacDonald was named one of the "Top 25 Unsung Heroes of the Net" in 1999 by Inter@ctive Week, a Ziff Davis publication.

[6] In 2014, MacDonald received the Glenn G. Bartle Distinguished Alumnus Award from Binghamton University for her work in internet technology.

MacDonald was honored with a Doctor of Letters degree by Binghamton University at commencement ceremonies on May 19, 2017.