Barb McKinney was born in Zeist, Holland. She moved around and grew up in the US Air Force. She holds a Certificate in Secretarial Sciences from Robert Morris College, Carthage, IL. In 1993 she obtained her Associate's Degree from Kaskaskia College, Centralia, IL. Her Bachelor's Degree in Communication Disorders & Sciences was obtained in 1995 from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She completed her Master's Degree in Speech Language Pathology in 1997 from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She moved to Sullivan, IN, in 1997 and began working at Mary Sherman Hospital, now Sullivan County Community Hospital.

When she is not at work, Barb enjoys traveling with her family, painting, crafting, playing bingo, and shopping. She is a member of Sullivan Area Art Guild and a 20+ year member of the Beta Beta chapter of Psi Iota Xi sorority.