Title: Linguist and Author
Company: Leoma’s Books
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Leoma G. Gilley, PhD, Linguist and Author at SIL International, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in Linguistics.
Dr. Gilley has established herself as a leading linguist and author, demonstrating expertise in phonetics, phonology and linguistics. Since 2019, she has served as the author and publisher at Leoma’s Books, where she has contributed significantly to Christian literature and language development resources. Dr. Gilley’s work includes translating the Bible, advancing language and community development, assisting minority-language communities in developing writing systems and literature, and creating Bible translation facilities.
Leveraging her former success, Dr. Gilley was appointed director of training for SIL Sub-Saharan Africa in 2007. In this capacity, she developed a comprehensive training program tailored to African communities, enabling them to participate in Bible translation, scripture engagement, literacy initiatives, linguistic surveys and related activities. Recognizing the educational gap for many participants who had only completed high school, Dr. Gilley designed a curriculum that bridged the divide between secondary education and advanced degrees. This initiative led to the founding of the Institute for the Development of Languages and Translation in Africa (IDELTA) in 2010. Under her leadership, IDELTA has successfully guided multiple cohorts through a rigorous academic program culminating in a year of bachelor’s degree-credit coursework recognized by accredited institutions in South Africa and Kenya. The program’s impact is evident in its ability to empower students to continue their studies toward bachelor’s degrees in their chosen fields.
Dr. Gilley’s tenure with SIL International began in 1979 and continues to the present day. Her early assignments included extensive work with the Shilluk people of Southern Sudan, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, spelling and other language-related aspects. She played a pivotal role in facilitating the translation of the entire Bible into Shilluk, culminating in its dedication in 2013. This milestone enabled the Shilluk community to access scripture in their native language for the first time. Dr. Gilley’s efforts also extended to establishing literacy programs and developing writing systems for approximately 30 minority languages through initiatives such as the Thursday Language Club.
In 1996, Dr. Gilley joined the faculty at the University of Khartoum, teaching English to undergraduate students in the faculty of arts and linguistics at the master’s level at the Institute for African and Asian Studies. During this period, she continued her research on grammar, phonology and orthography for multiple southern Sudanese languages through the Khartoum Workshop Programme. Dr. Gilley’s work fostered collaboration among language communities from various regions of Sudan and provided foundational literacy materials.
Earlier in her career, after earning her master’s degree, Dr. Gilley worked at a speech and hearing center in Macon, Georgia, where she assisted children with speech and language development and adults who had lost their ability to speak due to cancer of the vocal cords.
Instrumental in shaping her professional journey, Dr. Gilley earned a Bachelor of Science in speech and language pathology in 1971 and a Master of Arts in speech and language pathology in 1977 from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Subsequently, Dr. Gilley received a Doctor of Philosophy in linguistics from the school of oriental and African studies at the University of London in 1988. This advanced study equipped her with the analytical skills necessary for complex language documentation and development projects across Africa. Dr. Gilley’s initial training inspired her early work as a speech therapist in Georgia school systems before she felt called to pursue further studies in Bible translation at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Dr. Gilley maintains a lifelong passion for writing across multiple genres, including Christian devotionals and prayers addressing global issues such as addiction, sex trafficking, war, terrorism, leadership challenges and illness, as well as memoirs documenting her experiences abroad. Among her published works include “Every Day but Not Some: Glimpses into the Everyday Lives of Sudanese,” published in 2007, “Praying for Big Things: Using God’s Word to Guide in Praying for the BIG Issues in Our World,” released in 2020, and, among others, “Life in a Tumble Dryer: Living and Working in Khartoum, the World’s Hottest Capital,” published in 2024. Dr. Gilley also authored “An Autosegmental Approach to Shilluk Phonology,” which appeared as Volume 103 of SIL International and University of Texas at Arlington Publications in Linguistics in 1992.
Currently working on her latest works, “Becoming a Mature Disciple of Jesus: An Offering Space for God,” Dr. Gilley’s book explores spiritual practices for young adults navigating early adulthood. Additionally, she is documenting IDELTA’s history with plans to provide comprehensive guidelines for those interested in replicating its success.
Throughout her career, Dr. Gilley has received several accolades recognizing her literary contributions, including a Literary Titan Book Award, an International Impact Book Award, and several Best Book Awards.
Dr. Gilley remains committed to empowering others through education by sharing her methods so they may adapt them within their own contexts while understanding complex relationships with universities worldwide. She seeks to reach younger individuals navigating adulthood with guidance drawn from her extensive experience. Dr. Gilley’s unwavering dedication to linguistic excellence, community development and faith-based service continues to inspire colleagues, students and readers around the world.
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