Dr. Hager is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health. She is a nutritional epidemiologist with additional training in physical activity assessment and promotion. Prior to joining the faculty at BSPH in 2022, she spent 13 years at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as faculty in the Departments of Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Public Health. 

She has had funding from the USDA, NIH, and other local and federal agencies to evaluate the impact of policies and programs to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and food security for children and families, with a focus on schools. In addition to her research, she serves as the co-chair of a CDC School Wellness Working Group and the chair of the Maryland State School Health Council.