801 N. Country Fair Drive Suite E Champaign IL 61821
Dr. Lisa Bouillion Diaz is a nationally recognized leader in youth development and organizational innovation, with over 25 years of experience advancing life and work readiness for youth and adult audiences. She earned her Ph.D. from Northwestern University in a unique interdisciplinary program combining AI/computer science, cognitive science, and education, with a focus on designing transformative learning environments.
At the University of Illinois, Dr. Diaz has led groundbreaking initiatives in STEM education and youth workforce development—efforts that have secured major funding, catalyzed public-private partnerships, and shaped national policy and practice across the Cooperative Extension system. Her work is rooted in equity and access, with a proven track record of engaging youth in rural, urban, and tribal communities.
In her current role, she provides strategic leadership for statewide, regional, and national learning innovations through University of Illinois Extension, the College of ACES, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—positioning the institution as a national hub for future-ready workforce development. Dr. Diaz also serves as the National Director for the 4-H Work & Life Readiness Initiative (Beyond Ready), where she leads a coalition of land-grant universities in preparing 10 million youth for meaningful and successful futures.