Her research and teaching awards are notable: 2000 Fulbright Hays Group Projects Abroad to Ghana and Guinea in West Africa teaching about Islam; 1999 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute for School Teachers teaching about Islam in West Africa at the University of Arkansas at Monticello; 1997 Fulbright Hays Group Projects Abroad Program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Asmara, Eritrea to study Ethnic Federalism; 1994 Un Temoignage de Satisfaction from ICRA-N'KO, the non-governmental organization which promotes the dissemination of the N'ko alphabet in the Republic of Guinea and West Africa, 1994 West African Research Association Fellowship for research in West Africa (Senegal, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire); 1992-1993 Fulbright Dissertation Scholarship to conduct field research in the Republic of Guinea; 1987 Fulbright-Hays, U.S. Department of Education Summer Seminars Abroad Scholarship for study and research in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Senegal; and 1985 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute for School Teachers Grant to study Africa in the World History Institute at the University of Florida.

Among her academic honors in 2002 and 2003 are Fayetteville State University Teacher of the Year, College of Arts and Sciences Teacher of the Year, and Department of Government and History Teacher of the Year, and in 2002 College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Award for Outstanding Service.

Dianne White Oyler speaks English, French, and Maninka. She also is the author of numerous articles published in academic journals.