Butler studied at Reed College, graduating in 1977. She started in immunology, but moved into chemistry to work with transition metals. She worked with Professor Tom Dunne on An intramolecular electron transfer study: the reduction of pyrazinepentaaminecobalt (III) by chromium (II). She earned her PhD at University of California, San Diego in 1982 under Robert G. Linck and Teddy G. Traylor.