Melissa Daigneault

Melissa Daigneault has been connected to the Department of Construction Science since 1996 when she first enrolled as an undergraduate. After graduating summa cum laude from Texas A&M with her BS in Construction Science, Ms. Daigneault continued her education at Wake Forest University where she earned her juris doctorate degree in 2003.

Ms. Daigneault’s full-time legal career covered the full spectrum of the built environment, from contract formation and negotiation to dispute resolution, litigation and trial. While in private practice Ms. Daigneault represented owners, developers, design professionals, contractors and subcontractors in all manner, type and size of project. She is licensed to practice in TX and NC.

After several years in private practice, Ms. Daigneault joined the construction science faculty as a full time lecturer. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate classes focused on legal issues in the built envrionment, Ms. Daigneault also served as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator and developed, oversaw and lead the Construction Science department’s semester-long study abroad and internship program.

In 2013 Ms. Daigneault stepped away from the Construction Science department to take a position as Vice President and General Counsel of a telecommunications engineer firm. Ms. Daigneault enjoys the constantly changing challenges and rewards of working with a small dynamic business on a wide array business and legal issues. In 2017 Ms. Daigneault was invited back to the Construction Science faculty to teach part time. Ms. Daigneault is honored to consolidate her education and varied professional experiences to teach the next generation of Construction Science students. She appreciates that her role as general counsel for an engineering firm, and faculty role in Construction Science each enhance the other, and she feels lucky to serve in both capacities.

However, Ms. Daigneault’s best role is as mom to her 3 children. Outside of the office and off campus, Ms. Daigneault spends most of her time reviewing homework, chaffeuring her kids to volleyball, track, basketball, karate, band and generally trying to stay one step ahead of them; a task that gets harder by the year! They all love to travel, a love fostered in the kids by their early experiences on Study Abroad programs, and at this moment they are planning and saving for their next adventure.

Ms. Daigneault is interested in encouraging and motivating students, to appreciate the importance of “the contract” to set the rules for a project and dispute avoidance in the construction industry through the use of fair and equitable contract terms.