Betty Jean Garlick received her B.S. from Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1943 and her M.A. from Merrill Palmer and the University of Michigan in 1948. From 1943 to 1948 she held various teaching positions. In 1948 she became an instructor in Home Economics at the University of Illinois. She came to Michigan State in 1949 as an instructor in Home Management and Child Development. From 1955 to 1967 she was the teacher in charge of the Spartan Nursery School. From 1967 to 1973 she was the director of Operation Head Start Training Program. In 1973 she was a visiting instructor at the University of Michigan and in 1974 she was a Cooperative Extension child development specialist. From 1981 to 1982 she worked on a federal program to upgrade the food program of home day care providers. She retired in 1984.