Dr. Merriman joined the music faculty at JSU in the fall of 1976. Currently, he teaches applied trumpet, Class Brass, and Class Guitar. He has played principle trumpet with the Gadsden Symphony Orchestra since its formation, and has been active locally as a soloist and clinician. His professional experience includes playing with the Cedar Rapids Symphony, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the Tri-City Symphony, Davenport, Iowa. He also played with the Iowa Brass Quintet while in Iowa, and with the Jacksonville Brass Quintet here in Alabama.

Dr. Merriman received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from the University of Wisconsin, and his Master of Fine Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Iowa. He studied with Donald Whitaker at the University of Wisconsin, and with John Beer at the University of Iowa.

Dr. Merriman is a long-time member of the International Trumpet Guild. He was inducted in 1978 as an honorary member of Epsilon Nu Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity at Jacksonville State University.