Presenter BIO: Marilyn Pendelton, EdD, RN, LNC, CSNWebsite:
https://urvoiceheard.comDr. Pendelton is a transdisciplinary leader. She is the founder and CEO of Your Voice Heard, a federal government procurement-ready small business. Their mission is to educate and equip leaders, school communities, and workforce members with tools to recover from the grief caused by trauma, loss, and major life changes. YVH aims to reduce the health and financial burdens associated with grief where people work, live, and learn. Your Voice Heard believes in a “Whole Person Health" approach to support grievers by utilizing The Grief Recovery Method®, Socio-Emotional Learning in Workforce Training, and other holistic, evidence-based programs. In addition, Dr. Pendelton is an adjunct professor at Gwynedd Mercy University. In her role as a dissertation chair, her guidance focuses on cultivating leaders who approach their research through a lens of empathy, global relevance, and practical application. A proud Philadelphia resident, Dr. Pendelton views herself as a global citizen. She is an alumna of the Philadelphia High School for Girls and pursued her higher education in the Delaware Valley. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master’s in Educational Psychology, a School Nurse Certification from Widener University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (with a focus on PK-12 schools and school districts) from Gwynedd Mercy University. Dr. Pendelton is also a Grief Recovery Method Specialist certified by the Grief Recovery Institute® and a Legal Nurse Consultant certified through Manor College.Dr. Pendelton’s career spans diverse industries including nursing, workforce development, and education. Before launching into full-time entrepreneurism, she was an administrator in the School District of Philadelphia’s Office of Early Childhood Education. She is a sought-after speaker and over the last thirteen years has presented to local, national, and international audiences on various platforms covering the topics of grief, trauma and loss, education, and workplace mental health and well-being. She is the host of the YouTube channel, Your Voice Heard with Dr. Marilyn Pendelton where she educates the public about the different manifestations of loss and amplifies the voices of grievers as they share unique journeys to healing and hope.
Dr. Pendelton is deeply committed to service, holding several influential roles in local and national organizations. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Association for Infant Mental Health, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Racial Equity and Community Engagement Advisory Council, Co-Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Region Grief Recovery Method Specialists, and a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Health Equity Action Team. Her prior service includes board membership as Governing Secretary of The WISE Fund, the National Speakers Association – Philadelphia Chapter, Access to Rowing and Paddling Philadelphia, as well as participation in the Philadelphia Department of Public Health's COVID Racial Equity Committee and the Health Equity Advisory Committee during the pandemic.Recognized for her innovative work, Dr. Pendelton has received accolades from both local and global organizations. She was honored by the McClain Foundation for her leadership in gun violence intervention and research. Dr. Pendelton was nominated for the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Federation of International Gender and Human Rights. In October 2023, she received the Iconic Female Leadership Award from the Justina Mutale Foundation at the World Summit on Women and Girls.Outside of her professional commitments, Dr. Pendelton enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, baking, mentoring women, and volunteering. Her life’s purpose is clear: to amplify the voices of grievers, heal broken hearts, and influence policies and practices that reduce the stigma associated with grief.
