Hi. I am Renee Peltz (Dennison), Ph.D. I went to Lakewood High School and Kenyon College. I worked at Northwestern University in Chicago for two years and then decided on getting a Ph.D. in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona (in Tucson). When I was ABD and had a newborn (Egan), a husband (James), and an amazing dog (Bijou)—I got a tenure-track job at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in their Psychology department (but with strong ties to the education studies department and the now-defunct Human Studies Major). I worked VERY hard to both raise my children (Egan and Hewit, who is 2.5 years younger), coordinate our family life (with James), and was able to (after a few setbacks) earn Tenure in 2015.

Unfortunately, my life seemed to implode after that: my marriage crumbled, my ex became abusive, my physical and mental health suffered, and the fallout of our epic divorce and custody war (plus a car accident a week before I was to return to teaching) resulted in my termination from my job as a tenured Professor. Being terminated as a tenured Professor is a lengthy and arduous process and should be reserved for only the most egregious cases of academic controversy violations. But—after telling the chair of my Department that I feared the concussion from my car accident would significantly decrease my effectiveness in the classroom (on a Friday), I was called into HR on Monday morning and fired on the spot. They froze all my accounts (email, Blackboard, etc.) and prevented me from accessing any of MY files and intellectual property. I knew this termination violated my contract, the core values and practices of academia and the tenure process, as well as the faculty by-laws… but yet I was escorted off campus immediately and left in the parking lot in shock with one small box of my “personal belongings” from my office and lab.

Losing your life partner, your family, your children, your house & car, and your career seemingly all at once was quite a blow.

So—I decided to move home to Lakewood (Cleveland area) to regroup and get a fresh start. Some things about that decision have been great (reconnecting with old friends from high school and being close to all 4 of my parental units)—but the last couple of years (overall) have been rough.

My laptop died, which meant I had no efficient way to run my company (a “side-hustle”) where I use my education, expertise, and experience to help individuals and families going through a life transition (e.g., birth, death, divorce, marriage, etc.). I got a puppy to train to be my emotional support animal, and eventually a service animal—but the first night I brought him home a neighbor with a loaded .22 handgun accosted us, threatening to kill me, and punted my puppy (Sir Charles) 12 feet into the air like a football.

The trauma of that night, and continuing court dates and police visits (he violated my protection order numerous times) has exacerbated my P.T.S.D.—leaving me to feel unsafe in my apartment (less than 500 feet from the house where he was staying), and unsafe leaving the apartment (he would scream at me, spit on me, and attack my car and call the police). My landlord was not helpful—and ended up evicting me. After being homeless and staying in hotels for a few months, I found another apartment in my neighborhood and finally felt like things were turning around for me.

Unfortunately, before I was even able to really settle in, there was an electrical fire in the building and we were all displaced for months.

I am back in my own apartment now… but was hit recently with the sudden heart attack of my mother, which (as you can imagine) turned my life upside-down and triggered anxiety and my fibromyalgia.

After my mom being in and out of the hospital, and I being in the hospital (they injected a medication I am allergic to…)—I am beyond ready to move on and finally rise like a Phoenix from the past 10 years.

I need a laptop to do that. To try to get my company running again, to keep in touch with friends and family, and to work on my writing projects, blog, and podcast.

So for my birthday (2/15/25) I am hoping I can raise enough to get a laptop to get my business, and my life, running smoothly again. If you are able to contribute in any way, I would be forever grateful.