GMercyU Alumna and Faculty Member Publishes Book on Grief
Marilyn Pendelton, EdD, RN, LNC, CSN '20, a Gwynedd Mercy University alumna, adjunct faculty member, dissertation advisor, and grief recovery specialist, recently published her new book, The Grief Reset: Social Emotional Learning for the Church.
Founder and CEO of Your Voice Heard, LLC, Dr. Pendelton has dedicated her career to helping individuals and communities navigate grief, trauma, and loss. Drawing on insights gained through her doctoral research, professional experiences, lived experiences, and faith, she wrote The Grief Reset to address a gap she observed in how grief is understood and discussed.
"My inspiration for The Grief Reset was to bring awareness to the many grievers who suffer in silence," Dr. Pendelton said. "Every person will experience loss, yet many people are not equipped with the knowledge, language, or support they need to navigate grief."
The book explores forms of grief that extend beyond the death of a loved one, including broken relationships, caregiving responsibilities, church hurt, lost dreams, and major life transitions. Drawing on faith-based reflection, social emotional learning principles, and practical strategies, Dr. Pendelton encourages readers to develop greater emotional awareness and move from simply carrying grief to intentionally processing it.
Dr. Pendelton credits her experience in GMercyU's Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD) program with shaping her approach to the book and her broader grief work.
"The GMercyU EdD program expanded my global perspective and strengthened my ability to apply research to real-world problems," she said. "GMercyU did more than teach me how to complete a dissertation. It taught me how to investigate a problem, think like a scholar considering multiple perspectives, and translate knowledge into meaningful action. Those lessons are woven throughout The Grief Reset."
As both an alumna and current dissertation advisor in the EdD program, Dr. Pendelton said she has seen firsthand how significant life transitions and personal loss can affect students throughout their academic journeys, further informing her work in grief education and recovery.
Ultimately, Dr. Pendelton hopes readers will find both understanding and healing through the book.
"I want readers to see themselves somewhere in the pages of this book," she said. "Perhaps they will recognize a grief they have never named. Perhaps they will finally understand why a particular loss continues to affect them. Or perhaps they will realize that they have the capacity to begin, or continue, their healing journey."
The Grief Reset: Social Emotional Learning for the Church is available on Amazon.