Diane Ryals earned a bachelor of science from Western Illinois University and a master of science from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

She is involved with many community committees and advisory boards, including the Family Network; Chair of the Morgan-Scott Children's Issues Work Group; School District #117 Parent Advisory Board and Even Start Advisory Council; Brown-Cass-Morgan-Scott Local Intervention Council; Morgan-Scott Senior Issues Work Group; Morgan County Family Violence Coalition; Morgan County Pregnancy Prevention Task Force; and the Morgan County Health Department Education Review Committee.

Ryals is a member of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NAFCS), Illinois Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (IEAFCS), Epsilon Sigma Phi (Alpha Nu Chapter), the National Council on Family Relations and the University of Illinois Alumni Association.

She has received numerous awards, including the Illinois Cooperative Extension Service Outstanding Program of Excellence Team Award (twice); Epsilon Sigma Phi-Alpha Nu Chapter Mid-Career Service and M.S. Williams Awards; National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Distinguished Service, Educational Technology and two Florence Hall awards; and Illinois Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Package Program, Educational Curriculum Package, Newsletter and Caught At Your Best awards.

• Parenting classes for expectant parents and parents with infants and toddlers.
• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group (monthly).
• Bullying: Breaking the Code simulations for youth grades 6-12.
• Diaperbags to Backpacks baby and child fair for expectant parents and parents with children birth to third grade.
• Your Young Child - Managing Challenging Early Stages workshops for parents and caregivers of infants/toddlers.
• RISK: Real Issues of the Sexual Kind simulation for teens/preteens covering issues of teen pregnancy, STI's and HIV prevention.
• Walk in My Shoes: Aging Awareness hands-on workshops for youth, young adults and those who work with older adults.
• Workshops on a variety of family life topics: Looking on the Funny Side, When Discipline is Needed - What's a Parent to Do?, Building Bridges Between Generations, Remaining Strong in Trying Times, Bues, Blahs and Bounding Back, Find Your Get Up and Go, Building a Better Memory, Retirement Realities, Raising Responsible Kids, Family Violence Across the Life Span, Living Single in a Coupled World, Fearful-Feisty-Flexible--Understanding Temperament.