Ms. Garton joined Georgia Institute of Technology in 1998 as Associate Vice Provost for Research and General Manger of the Georgia Tech Research Corporation. Georgia Tech is a comprehensive university which reported $550 million in research expenditures for fiscal year 2009. Ms. Garton is responsible for the financial and business affairs of the GTRC, including licensing of intellectual property created at Georgia Tech. She also directs the activities of the Office of Sponsored Programs and the Office of Research Compliance. Ms. Garton is Tech's institutional official for the use of human subjects and animals in research and the Empowered Official for exports. She is a member of the Institute Council on Environmental Health and Safety, the Conflict of Interest Committee and is past chair of the Faculty Senate's Welfare and Security Committee.

Ms. Garton has been active nationally in research policy matters. She served on the Board of Directors of the Council on Governmental Relations (1999-2004) including two years as chair of the Contracts and Intellectual Property Committee. She currently serves as vice president for the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership and is a member of the faculty of the National Council of University Research Administrators' professional education programs.