Bartlett began her career at UAF in 1974 as coordinator of a child welfare training grant with the psychology and sociology department. She's held a number of other positions with UAF and the University of Alaska statewide system including director of the statewide Elderhostel program and dean of continuing education with what was then known as the Tanana Valley Community College. For the past 13 years, Bartlett has owned and managed Maiden Alaska, a company that designs, develops and conducts comprehensive study tours of Alaska and Canada for non-profit educational institutions.