A 1964 graduate of Screven County High School in Sylvania, Georgia, Dr. Hagan earned a B.S.Ed. and an M.S.T. in Science from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in Athens. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 1968, rose through the ranks, and retired as a captain after 30 years of service and his teaching career includes high school science in Savannah; eight years teaching science at South Georgia State College (Douglas) and the College of Coastal Georgia (Brunswick); 24 years teaching biology at Georgia Southern University; and 10 years teaching human anatomy and physiology at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon. He is married, has two adult sons, and enjoy spending time with four grandchildren.