Nitasha C. Nagaraj

Nitasha C. Nagaraj, DrPH, MPH, is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at the George Washington University (GW) Milken Institute School of Public Health and Practicum Faculty Director for the MPH@GW program. She also serves as a Director of Practice Fellowships with the GW Maternal and Child Health Center of Excellence. Her work focuses on women’s health, adolescent girls’ empowerment, gender equity, and maternal and child health in the United States and globally.

Dr. Nagaraj’s career is grounded in a commitment to improving the health and well-being of women, children, and families through research, practice, education, and partnerships. She has led and evaluated programs addressing adolescent girls’ voice and agency, gender-based violence, reproductive and gynecologic health, chronic disease, mental health, climate resilience, and women’s economic security, with work spanning India, Nepal, Ghana, Mexico, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the United States. She has partnered with organizations including Girl Rising and has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and reports.

Dr. Nagaraj is the founder of the South Asian Women’s Research Initiative (SAWRI), a multidisciplinary initiative advancing culturally responsive research, education, and partnerships to improve the health and well-being of South Asian women. At GW, she oversees the systems and partnerships supporting more than 1,000 MPH students annually and previously served as Project Director of the GW Campus COVID-19 Support Team, coordinating university-wide public health response operations during the pandemic. She is deeply committed to connecting evidence with practice and mentoring the next generation of public health professionals. Dr. Nagaraj earned her DrPH and MPH from the George Washington University and her bachelor’s degree in Health Administration and Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.