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 linguistics, particularly in the areas of phonetics, phonology and orthography development. 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 advancing language and community development, assisting minority-language communities in developing writing systems and literature, and creating an institute where Africans and others can gain competencies needed for their work in Bible translation, Scripture engagement, literacy and mother-tongue education, and language survey.
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 make significant contributions to work 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 navigated the complex relationships with universities worldwide in order to design 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 become leaders and mentors in their communities as well as continuing their studies toward bachelor’s degrees in their chosen fields.
Dr. Gilley’s tenure with SIL International began in 1979 and continues in a voluntary capacity to the present day. Her early assignments included extensive work with the Shilluk people of South Sudan, focusing on analyzing the sound system, grammar, and spelling to improve readability. She played a pivotal role in facilitating a usable translation of the entire Bible into Shilluk, culminating in its dedication in 2013. This milestone enabled the Shilluk community to more easily access scripture in their mother tongue 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 Sudanese languages through the Khartoum Workshop Programme. Her work fostered collaboration among language communities from various regions of Sudan and provided foundational literacy materials.
Having earned a Bachelor of Science in speech and language pathology in 1971, Dr. Gilley then worked as a speech therapist in Georgia school systems. She completed a Master of Arts in speech and language pathology in 1977 from the University of Tennessee. She worked in a speech and hearing center in central Georgia for several years 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.
In 1979, Dr. Gilley felt called to pursue further studies in Bible translation at the University of Texas at Arlington. After several years working in Sudan, Dr. Gilley read for a Doctor of Philosophy in linguistics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) 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 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. Her published works include “Every Day but Not Some: Glimpses into the Everyday Lives of Sudanese” in 2007, “Praying for Big Things: Using God’s Word to Guide in Praying for the BIG Issues in Our World” in 2020, and “The Still Small Voice of Love” in 2012. Her “Not How I Planned It” memoir series includes “Launching into the Unknown, Discovering the Beautiful and Bewildering World of the Sudanese” in 2023 and “Life in a Tumble Dryer: Living and Working in Khartoum, the World’s Hottest Capital,” published in 2024. Three more books in this series are planned. 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.
Dr. GIlley’s latest book, co-authored with Carol Mullen, “Come, Find Space with God,” 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. She remains committed to empowering others through education by sharing her methods so they may adapt them within their own contexts. 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 students and readers around the world.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Dr. Gilley:
Your message has been sent
