A TV director and a professor of directing at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Garretson has had a long career in entertainment. Following graduation from the University of Southern California, and a brief run as a production assistant and stand-in, Garretson was accepted into the Directors Guild of America training program. Following a two-year trainee period, she then fully joined the DGA as an assistant director. During her first few years as a DGA member, Garretson worked mainly on made-for-TV films and feature films. Her credits include the feature films Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Clifford, Switch and The Specialist.
