Merget began working at LSU in 2007 and was a professor in the Public Administration Institute. She served as executive vice chancellor and provost between 2007 and 2010. In addition to Merget's work at LSU, she had also held a number of high-level academic positions at other universities. She was dean of Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. At Ohio State University, she was director of the School of Public Policy and Management, as well as associate dean and acting dean of the College of Business. She was also associate dean at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and chair of its Department of Public Administration. At George Washington University, she chaired the Department of Public Administration. In addition to her academic work, Merget held senior positions in the federal government. She was senior adviser to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and special assistant to the assistant secretary for policy development and research at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.