Pierrette Renée Dagg, Ph.D. is Director of Research and Research & Development at Merit Network, where she leads applied and academic research initiatives spanning artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum networking, research cyberinfrastructure, broadband, and digital opportunity. Her work focuses on translating emerging technologies into practical solutions that strengthen research, education, and public service while advancing Internet infrastructure and digital resilience.

Dr. Dagg earned her Ph.D. in Foundations of Education with a specialization in Educational Technology from the University of Toledo. Her research examines the societal, ethical, and educational implications of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. Her dissertation, Components of an Ethical Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Education as Informed by Stoic Philosophy, explored ethical approaches to AI adoption in educational settings.

At Merit, Dr. Dagg oversees a diverse portfolio of state and federally funded research projects, including initiatives in AI-enabled cybersecurity, national network telescope research, quantum networking, digital opportunity, rural broadband adoption, Internet measurement, research computing, and sensor networks. She has helped secure and manage millions of dollars in competitive research funding while building partnerships with universities, government agencies, industry, and nonprofit organizations across the United States.

Her current work includes advancing Michigan’s research cyberinfrastructure, expanding access to national research computing resources, developing AI-ready datasets for cybersecurity research, supporting quantum networking experimentation, and leading community-centered digital opportunity initiatives that improve access, digital skills, and cybersecurity awareness. She is particularly interested in bridging fundamental research with real-world implementation, ensuring that scientific innovation delivers measurable public benefit.

Beyond her research leadership, Dr. Dagg is an active educator, speaker, and author whose work explores AI literacy, digital equity, technology ethics, and the future of research infrastructure. She serves as a Research Associate with Michigan State University’s Quello Center, has held national advisory and leadership roles related to broadband and digital inclusion, and frequently collaborates with researchers across disciplines to address complex societal challenges at the intersection of technology, education, and public policy.

Her research philosophy is grounded in the belief that technology should expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and support scientific discovery through open collaboration, responsible innovation, and practical impact.