Melissa Diegnau

MBA

Associate Professor | Faculty

Address: MH 147
Phone: (507) 389-1622
Email: melissa.diegnau@mnsu.edu

MBA, Southwest Minnesota State
Graduate Certificate in Communication Education, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Bachelor of Science Public Relations, minors in marketing and Spanish, Southwest Minnesota State

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) focused on improving student success through experiential and high-impact learning that connects classroom concepts to real-world business through industry partnerships, technology, and applied learning at scale.

Diegnau, M. (2026). Silencing through communication: A multilevel view of workplace bullying. Western Journal of Human Resource Management, 23(1), 50–58.
Pigsley, C., Diegnau, M., & Trahms Chapman, C. (2026). Must be ruff: Finding a balance must be ruff. The Case Journal, 1–11.
Diegnau, M., & Bersh, L. C. (2025). Reduce email overload with video feedback. Journal of Business Management and Change, 12(3), 45–56.
Diegnau, M. (2025). Building employability skills with VoiceThread: An online group work support tool. Journal of Business Management and Change, 22(3a), 26–43.
Diegnau, M., Chapman, C. A. T., & Burk, B. (2025). Bringing Advising Into the Classroom Through Chocolate and Career Exploration. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 36(2).
Chapman, C. A. T., & Diegnau, M. (2024). Dogs start talking: Experiential learning in strategic management. Journal of Education for Business, 99(3), 195–200.
Diegnau, C., Diegnau, M., & Fingland, S. (2024). Diegnau Farms: Justification and Negotiation of Adding Tile to a Rented Farm. Journal of Critical Incidents, 17(1), 48–50.
Minnesota Valley Business Magazine. (2024, January). Supporting the university mission through industry engagement. Minnesota Valley Business Magazine.

Minn State NED Conference, “Reflect project: Career readiness and self-reflection,” September 2025.
Western Business Management Conference, “Career readiness and self-reflection,” April 2025.
Western Business Management Conference, “VoiceThread in online group work,” April 2025.
SoTL Commons Conference, “Career readiness and self-reflection,” February 2025.
Co-Presenter: “Diegnau Farms: Justification and Negotiation of Adding Tile to a Rented Farm.” MBAA Annual Conference, April 2024.
Presenter: “Maximizing the Value of Career Events in Higher Education: An Analysis of Student Experiences Using SmartPLS.” Academy of Business Research Conference, March 2023.
Presenter: “How To: Virtual Events for Large Section Courses Preparing Students for a Post COVID Work World with the Help of Industry Partners.” Transforming Teaching and Learning Virtual Conference, February 2023.
Presenter: “Reduce questions and increase engagement in on-line group work with free/low-cost tools.” Quality Matters Annual Convention, October 2020.

Management Personnel Committee, Fall 2025-Present
Career Champion, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Fall 2025-Present
Faculty Partner Cengage, Fall 2020-Present
Bachelor of Business Administration Work Group, Fall 2019-Present
Certified Quality Matters Peer Reviewer, Spring 2019-Present
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee, Spring 2023-Spring 2025
Stangler Internship Advisory Committee, Fall 2019-Spring 2024

College of Business Difference Maker, September 2026
Selected to participate in the MinnState Reflect Program SoTL Program, September 2023-April 2025
Nominee for Dr. Duane Orr Teacher of the Year Award, spring 2022
Recipient of “Innovating through COVID-19” educator award, Educational Innovations at the Minnesota State System Office, June 2020.