Written by Stephanie Gordon
Education and learning have always been a constant for Stacy Bryan Vondra, ’95. So has Hillsdale College.
The Boyne City, Michigan, native came to Hillsdale as a student (thanks to a gentle nudge from her high school Spanish teacher) and now teaches students of her own. From head teacher to director at Mary Randall Preschool, to speech pathologist for the Branch County ISD, students have remained at the heart of it all for Stacy.
“I’ve been connected to Hillsdale College in some way since I was 18,” smiled Stacy. “The fact that I’ve had a connection to my alma mater for this long, in various roles, is unique.”
As a student, Stacy quickly immersed herself in Hillsdale’s culture, both in athletics and academics. She was a cheerleader for both football and basketball seasons, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and a member of the Spanish and education honoraries. She majored in early childhood education and minored in Spanish and English.
Because of her early childhood background, Kathleen Connor, ’79, had a significant impact on Stacy. “Kathleen hired me to be a head teacher at Mary Randall Preschool after my graduation, and later as the director,” said Stacy. “We have a special, lifelong connection that started through education and our passion for early childhood education specifically.”
That educational passion continued to grow as Stacy taught preschoolers and college students in her new role at the College. “I was making effective changes in the lives of students, and it’s definitely shaped how I teach today,” she said. “I became the director at Mary Randall Preschool in 2005, and the experience was unparalleled.”
But a seed for a future in speech pathology was planted in Professor Walt Lewke’s “Teaching the Exceptional Child” class. “We had many conversations and reflections on education,” said Stacy. “He often told me I’d be a good speech pathologist someday.”
That seed began to grow at Mary Randall as Stacy supported student and parent goals with speech therapy. Looking for ways to enhance her skills, Stacy went back to school to obtain two master’s degrees in child development and speech-language pathology. “Hillsdale College certainly prepared me well with knowledge and instruction, teaching children, and supporting teachers and learners chasing the pursuit of knowledge and polishing skills,” she said. “But, I decided to go back to school and study speech pathology. I was representing Hillsdale College in a new and different way.”
After nearly two decades at the College, Stacy took on a new educational role: speech pathologist for the Branch County ISD. Her home base is at Jennings Elementary School in Quincy, Michigan. “My heart lies in a school setting, so it was an easy adjustment,” she said. “Mary Randall is an unmatched facility, and the fact that I got to be there for 18 years was phenomenal.”
Currently, Stacy has four Hillsdale College students shadowing her work and applying to graduate schools for speech pathology. “Working with the students has been such a joy,” said Stacy. “Education is that balance of teaching and continuous learning. My personal research is fostered in an educational setting. I love helping all students learn—we should all be learning. It keeps things exciting.”
Stacy stays active with educational research interests, her church (St. Anthony’s), and the College’s Women Commissioners. “As a student who received scholarships, it’s been beautiful to help raise money and provide that gift to other students,” said Stacy. “It’s also been great to get to know the students more intimately and personally.”
Outside of the classroom, Stacy enjoys spending time with her husband of 29 years, Shawn, who is newly retired after serving Hillsdale Community Schools for 25 years as a teacher and administrator. Stacy and Shawn have two grown children, Grace and Sam. She said raising their children in Hillsdale was a joy.
“When you’re a college student, you may not always see the beauty in the community, but when you’re ready to raise a family, you see the beauty in the community,” reflected Stacy. “I love that I can still go to the grocery store and see students who I used to have in preschool. I’m in awe of the connections that are still in place many years later. It speaks volumes.”
With the Vondras invested in their careers and business ventures, Hillsdale will stay home base for quite some time. “I love what I do,” said Stacy. “We have so many ties and connections to this community and the College, and our friendships…. Hillsdale is a really special place.”
Stephanie Gordon, a lifelong Hillsdale native, is the managing editor of Virtue and Valor: The Official Blog of Hillsdale College. She is married to chiropractor, Dr. Matt Gordon, and has three children – Eloise, Flora, and Jack. She enjoys baking, floating on Baw Beese Lake, Detroit Lions football, and breaking a sweat at the gym.
Published in October 2025
