Dr. Daniel received her undergraduate degree from Duke University with a BA in history. After working in the arenas of banking and law, Dr. Daniel studied and lived at Perkins School for the Blind-Boston University residential teacher-training program in Watertown, Massachusetts. Upon completing training and requirements for certification in teaching the visually handicapped at Perkins, Dr. Daniel was employed by the Atlanta Public School System. She served in the capacity of consultant to visually handicapped students in Atlanta middle and upper public schools. Dr. Daniel next was employed by the South Carolina Commission for the Blind as a resource consultant for visually handicapped adults residing throughout the state.
Dr. Daniel subsequently pursued further training in the mental health field. She received her masters degree in social work from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, School for Social Work. She received her doctoral degree in social work from Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, Massachusetts. Her research was based on qualitative and quantitative studies in the field of attachment theory.