Our Georgia Commitment: Getting to know Nancy Juneau (BSED ’82)

Nancy Juneau (BSED ’82) and her husband, Les, founded Juneau Construction Company in 1997. Today, Nancy is CEO of the $400 million, Atlanta-based company that employs more than 190 people in its offices in Atlanta, Miami, and Tampa.

A UGA Foundation trustee, Nancy is especially proud to provide financial support to nearly every corner of campus to enhance the academic and public service mission of her alma mater. Over the years, the couple has found many ways to give back, including establishing the Juneau Construction Company Professorship in Civil Engineering, supporting Delta Hall, providing scholarships to students, and including UGA in their estate plans.

We caught up with Nancy to learn more about this passionate Bulldog.

Where does your UGA story begin?
I was raised in Atlanta by a single mother who didn’t attend college but was adamant that I attend the University of Georgia. It had a great reputation, and she probably selfishly liked that I’d still be nearby.

Where were we most likely to find you on campus as a student?

I lived in Creswell Hall and then at the Chi Omega house on Milledge Avenue. I ran up and down Milledge a lot, and since I didn’t have a car, I also did a lot of walking around campus — something I still enjoy today.

What is a treasured UGA memory?
Being in a sorority allowed me to be a part of a smaller group within the bigger UGA campus. But it could be any club or organization — Chi O is just what gave me leadership opportunities that probably fueled a bit of my entrepreneurship without really knowing it at the time. A memory that sticks out is helping to organize a “Fun Run” to benefit the Athens Boys and Girls Club. It was hard work, but it taught me how rewarding fundraising for the community could be.

What keeps you connected to UGA?

After graduating, I moved a lot, began a family, started a company, and honestly was not very connected to UGA for years. Close friends regularly invited Les and me to football games, and when our kids were old enough, we secured our own season tickets to games in a SkySuite. So, I guess football was the first reason I reconnected. The second was that our older son struggled to locate housing in Washington, D.C., during a college internship, so when UGA approached us to support the development of what is now Delta Hall, we knew firsthand that there was a need for safe intern housing in the capital. That spurred us to donate to help renovate the building for UGA’s residential presence in D.C.

You donate each year to all 19 UGA schools and colleges; what prompted this generous decision?
When I was chairing the UGA Foundation’s development committee during the pandemic, I asked to have phone chats with the development directors of every school and college. We discussed their priorities and funding needs, and I absolutely loved it! Les was often working in the background during those calls, and he was also blown away — and he’s not even a UGA grad. He was immediately on board with the idea of spreading our giving as there were so many compelling needs across campus.

What have you learned about UGA that surprised you?
There are many student resources and programs whose missions are to improve student outcomes outside the classroom. For example, Let All the Big Dawgs Eat seeks to end food insecurity among students, and the Sunshine Fund focuses on improving students’ mental well-being. It also is amazing to see how UGA faculty and students are recognized globally for their work. These things make me proud to be a Dawg.