Whicker was a professor of political science at Rutgers University, where she served a term as the Chair of the Department of Public Administration.
[1] Whicker was a Congressional Fellow of the American Political Science Association in 1975, and in that capacity she worked with Massachusetts member of congress Joe Moakley.
[2] While working as a professor at the University of South Carolina, Whicker studied electronic engineering at Midlands Technical College and completed an associate degree there.
[2] Whicker's research largely focused on how the institutions of governance affect policies, and the role of executives and legislative leaders in American politics.
[9] In addition to her research, Whicker also served as an editor of academic journals including the Presidential Studies Quarterly.