In 1962, Diallo was one of the first three African American freshmen to enroll at the University of Georgia. She graduated in 1966 and continued her academic pursuits all the way through a Ph.D. in French literature from Emory University. A former member of the Morehouse College faculty, Diallo was instrumental in the development of the Business French course at Florida A&M University. Dr. Mary Diallo previously served as an Associate Professor of French at Florida A&M University. Her areas of specialization include 20th Century French literature, Anglophone and Francophone literature, and African American literature. Her research areas include French, African, and Caribbean literature.