 McKinley began her career in museums in 1987 while studying at Queen's University, working as a docent in the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.McKinley then moved to the National Gallery of Canada's Prints and Drawings Department, and secured an internship at the Tate in 1992 focusing in youth programming.The following year, McKinley was hired at the Art Gallery of Ontario, serving from 1993 to 1996 as Coordinator of Family Programs.