Meet Stephanie Vidaillet Gelderloos

Originally from Southwest Detroit, Stephanie Vidaillet Gelderloos found her passion for language while studying at Eastern Michigan University. “I had originally considered political science or a career in law, but after a couple of classes, I realized that all of the argumentation, all of the debate – it wasn’t for me,” she recalled. “I took an introductory linguistics course, and I was hooked! I wanted to know everything there was to know about language – how it changes over time, how we learn language, why we have dialects, and how meaning is constructed – everything.”

Stephanie’s original vision for her career centered on the tech industry, and she began working at a voice recognition software company after graduating from college. “My master’s degree focused on phonetics and phonology – pronunciation, dialect variation – so my work involved essentially training the system to recognize differences in how people speak,” she shared. “I worked there for a bit right before the tech industry bubble burst in the early 2000s, and that’s when I moved to Washtenaw Community College. It turns out that understanding language at the linguistic level is helpful when teaching those who struggle with reading and writing at a college level and those taking English as a second language. Many instructors avoid teaching these types of courses because they can be challenging. But I loved it!”

The flexible schedule that the community college offered her was also a benefit, as Stephanie had two young daughters at home. In 2013, she applied for a full-time lecturer position at UM-Flint and began teaching English composition and college readiness courses. Her daughters are now University of Michigan graduates themselves, with her elder daughter Ariana graduating from Ann Arbor in 2018 with a degree in film and her younger daughter Sofie just completing her degree in Integrated Social Sciences in May 2024 at Flint.

Stephanie was interested in becoming involved with UM Flint’s Latinx Student organization from the start, so she was disappointed that there wasn’t one. In 2017, she identified a group of interested students, and together, they formed Latinos United for Advancement (LUNA), an organization for which she has been the faculty advisor ever since.

“I have been blessed with a tireless group of students who work hard every year to bring amazing cultural events to the campus,” she noted. “They’re award-winning too! They really put in the work, and I’m so proud of them.”

LUNA puts on several annual events, including celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month – including a Salsa dance party and local folkloric dancers – Spanish karaoke nights, and an annual Dia de los Muertos evening, which involves community-built ofrendas, storytelling, food, and more.

“We’re really proud of the richness of Latino culture and love sharing it with others, so I think its important to note that all of LUNA’s events are open to everyone,” Stephanie said. “So come learn to Salsa, share your stories, engage with us. Building community is what LUNA is all about.”

One of Stephanie’s formative experiences during her undergraduate studies was the year she spent studying abroad in the Netherlands. Not only did she meet her husband, but she also learned to speak Dutch and worked on the first English-to-Frisian dictionary as part of an internship at the Frisian Academy. The experience ignited her lifelong love of travel.

“Of course, traveling is wonderful in its own right, but it’s even more special when I have the opportunity to share my travel experience and insights with my students, some of whom have never traveled outside of Michigan before,” she shared. “And while studying abroad is a tremendous experience, exploring and learning about cultures closer to home can be just as meaningful. As part of the Mellon Grant-funded program led by Daniel Birchok and Jacob Lederman called Borders and Crossings, Ben Gaydos and I taught a UNV100 course that explored Flint’s history as an innovator in the tech and automotive industries. The class included a fully-funded 7-day road trip heading south, retracing the route of the Great Migration.”

Stephanie was granted more Mellon Grant funding this year to add a bit of a UNV 100 experience to her courses. The classes will focus on getting to know Flint through trips to Factory 1, The Flint Institute of Arts, The Sloan, and The Capitol Theater, and also explore Detroit through visits to The Detroit Historical Society and the Detroit Institute of Arts (with dinner in Mexican Town of course!).

But it’s the Spring 2025 Wyatt Exploration trip to Cuba that Stephanie is particularly excited about. “I love Cuba – I have been there a few times, and it is such a beautiful island, although the people’s struggles there make it a very bittersweet experience,” she remarked. “I’ve been working with Thomas Henthorn to plan the trip, and I look forward to sharing it with the students. To help address and raise awareness of some of the struggles that Cubans face, LUNA will run a clothing and medicine drive this Fall, and the students will deliver the supplies in the Spring.”

In terms of her future goals, Stephanie strives to become a better teacher every year. “There are so many opportunities to do cool things with and for the students at UM-Flint, new ways of connecting and learning from each other,” she explained. “I love working with students from all over Michigan; they teach me so much! So, in terms of future career goals, that’s it: I want to continue focusing on students, teaching them and learning from them – and enjoy every second of it.”

Stephanie Loves…

• Playing cornhole. “I recently discovered that I’m really good at it, so I bought a set, and I now destroy anyone who comes to visit.”
• Camping. “We own a hybrid camper named Lola and love to camp on Lakes Huron and Michigan. Warren Dunes and Sleeping Bear Dunes are two of our favorite locations. Pro tip: small, personal fans are good at keeping mosquitos away! If you have a fan on you, they can’t land.” 
• Dancing. “I will dance until my feet and my bad knee hurt! I love any music that makes you want to move – Latin, pop, hip-hop, salsa, anything. I dance every chance I get.”

Flint in Three Words

• Real
• Resilient
• Welcoming

Flint Faves

• Cork on Saginaw – they have the best wine in town!
• Timothy’s Pub – This is a great place for low-pressure karaoke and good bar food.