Hilary M. Shager

Hilary M. Shager is associate director for programs and management at the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the nation’s sole federally funded poverty research center. She oversees the institute’s operations, conducts social policy research, and manages research and data-sharing contracts with Wisconsin state agencies. Previously, she served as associate director of the university's La Follette School of Public Affairs, where she oversaw educational programming, professional development, and outreach initiatives connecting policymakers with research. Earlier in her career, she was a research analyst at the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. Shager received her PhD in public policy with a minor in education sciences from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

updated 2025