[3] Hanley became interested in officiating following her 2009 graduation from the State University of New York at Oswego with a degree in zoology.
She was searching for a way to remain actively involved in the ice hockey community while living in Dallas during an internship with the Dallas Zoo when she met a female official during a local pickup game and, as she described in 2019, “… just listened to her when she told me what [being a referee] was all about.
[5][6] During September 7 through 10, 2019, Hanley became one of four women to officiate at the NHL level for the first time, working in an NHL Prospect Tournament hosted by the Detroit Red Wings in Traverse City, Michigan.
[7][8] Hanley served as a linesman alongside Kirsten Welsh and referees Kelly Cooke and Katie Guay in the Elite Women's 3-on-3 event at the 2020 National Hockey League All-Star Game at Enterprise Center in St.
[9] Also in 2020, Hanley served as a linesman at the 2020 IIHF Women's U18 World Championship, joining Cooke as the only American officials at the tournament, and officiated the bronze medal game, a 6–1 victory by Russia over Finland.