Instructor Spotlight: Merrilee Pickett

Written by Mary Lock Albrecht

If you spent a day with Merrilee Pickett, you would likely have a day filled with blood pumping exercise and an appreciation for beauty.

You would also likely absorb some of her enthusiasm for her job as an instructor.

“I love teaching,” she exclaims, adding “I hope I’m contributing to society, helping the human condition just a little bit by leading these classes for human service professionals.” Pickett says she likes the energy found in a class when people want to learn. “I find teaching to be a circular process. I pass along information to the class and participants always teach me something in return,” she notes.

Outside of the classroom, Pickett is an avid jogger, cross country skier and cyclist. On her noon hours, she regularly jogs on the Lakeshore Path along Lake Mendota. She also enjoys swimming. Five years ago, Pickett points out with a modest smile, she even completed a Triathlon—a marathon of intense running, biking and swimming events.

At home, Pickett loves working in her bountiful flower gardens. “I’m not a formal gardener. I just plant whatever I want, where I want! My yard is brimming with phlox, coneflowers, baby’s breath and bee balm among a hundred other plants.”

She also delights in spending time with her two step-grandchildren, ages one and 3 ½ years old. With her husband, Tom, she relaxes by attending plays and concerts. Beautiful music captivates her; she also enjoys it by playing classical piano pieces.

“I’ve found that having strong recreational interests gives me balance and then I’m raring to return to the classroom,” she explains.

Before joining the University of Wisconsin’s staff, she worked in a hospital’s drug and alcohol unit. But Merrilee yearned to teach.

Merrilee Pickett has been teaching in the substance abuse field for about 22 years. She can hardly believe it’s been that long.