Mary Mero was the first women's gymnastics coach and women's diving coach at UW-Eau Claire, joining the staff in 1969 when the McPhee Physical Education Center complex was completed. She served as head gymnastics coach for 21 years and women's diving coach for six years.

Mero retired in 2000 after 31 years of service as a member of the Department of Kinesiology. During that period, she taught multitudes of students in downhill skiing, cross country skiing, synchronized swimming, diving, archery, bowling, badminton, dance roller skating, gymnastics, fitness, weight training, ballet, tap and modern dance, racquetball, exercise with music, beginning and intermediate swimming and bicycling. She also was the internship coordinator for the exercise management emphasis for 11 years and handled field observations. She served as an American Red Cross instructor in Community CPR and First Aid, HIV/AIDS Education and Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training.

Mero was the founder and director of the UW-Eau Claire girls gymnastics camp for girls ages 5 to 17 for 30 years. She was also a master teacher for the UWEC Swim and Gym Children's Program for children ages 5 to 12, also for 30 years.

Mero was actively involved in department committees, in the state Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; and served as chair of the conference and NAIA District 14 gymnastics associations.

She was active in the Eau Claire County 4-H program for 18 years, spent eight years with Kinship and has been a member of the Valley Gospel Choir since 1991. She was a volunteer worker at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also has taught and presented many workshops and clinics on bicycle safety.

Mero was director of the 1986 NAIA gymnastics championship which UW-Eau Claire hosted after being named the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference gymnastics coach of the year in 1985.

Growing up in Minnesota, Mero won 22 state AAU one and three-meter diving championships between 1958 and 1963. She was also the Minnesota AAU floor exercise champion in 1962.

Mero received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Minnesota and spent five years at the College of St. Teresa in Winona before coming to UW-Eau Claire.

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