About the Author

Dr. Amanda-Lee Pitzer is an Educational Psychologist, Program Director, author, and national advocate dedicated to reshaping how schools and communities respond to trauma. She specializes in trauma-informed education, educational psychology, and curriculum leadership, teaching at Columbia College of South Carolina, Regent University, and Grand Canyon University.

In 2025, Dr. Pitzer was named Director of the Mentoring and Dissertation Coaching Program within Regent University’s School of Education, where she supports doctoral candidates and faculty mentors through every stage of the dissertation process.

A leader in curriculum innovation, she has redesigned graduate-level programs to align with the latest research in trauma science, child development, and social-emotional learning. Her course updates address the real-world needs of educators supporting students through adversity.

She is the author of The Relieved Widow: Unexpected Truths of Suicide Loss and the upcoming When Children Are Hurting: A Smart Living in Small Bites Guidebook. Her third book, Classroom Strategies for Trauma-Informed Teaching: Restoring Trust, Connection, and Hope, will be released in early 2026 and is already being adopted in graduate teacher education programs.

Outside of academia, Dr. Pitzer serves as Chapter President for Angels of America’s Fallen – Hampton Roads and is a proud Gold Star Advocate with T.A.P.S. (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors). She regularly meets with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for military survivor families and veteran mental health. In 2024, she played a key role in advancing the Elizabeth Dole Act, a landmark bill supporting caregivers and surviving families.

Whether teaching future educators or influencing policy, Dr. Pitzer’s work is grounded in the belief that every child deserves a safe adult—and every educator deserves the training to become one.

When Children Are Hurting: A Smart Living in Small Bites Guidebook

(A donation project for the Grit and Grace project - Late 2025)

Created as a donation project for The Grit and Grace Project, this guidebook offers practical, accessible “small bites” of wisdom for parents and caregivers walking alongside children in pain. With gentle strategies, reflections, and hope-filled practices, it helps families find healing and resilience in everyday life.

Classroom Strategies for Trauma-Informed Teaching: Restoring Trust, Connection, and Hope

(Palgrave Macmillan - Early 2026)

An educator’s playbook for creating safe, connected classrooms where every student can thrive. Grounded in research and real-world practice, it offers clear frameworks, sample language, and step-by-step strategies teachers can put into action right away.

See what people are saying about The Relieved Widow:

The Widowed Parent Podcast:

I had such a great discussion with Amanda-Lee Pitzer for this episode. Amanda-Lee is the author of the new memoir The Relieved Widow.

“Relieved,” you say? Yes, the title is perhaps a bit jarring. But Amanda-Lee is doing readers a service by being open and honest about her story of losing her military husband to suicide when their boys were 8 and 10. She recalls that when her therapist friend pointed out that she seemed to feel relieved, her reaction was, “I’m not allowed to say that. No one can know.”

By talking about her journey, Amanda-Lee gives us permission to talk about the things that are our own realities. She also shares practical tips for navigating the hard conversations with her boys – right after it happened, and in the years to come – that are I think important for all widowed parents to hear.

-Jenny Lisk

Click here to watch the Interview

Blue Hat Publishing on Instagram:

We are excited about the upcoming release of Amanda-Lee's new book. In this interview, she bravely addresses abuse and suicide loss and paves the way for more people to find hope in the darkness. Presale begins May 6th and comes with a special opportunity to buy a book to benefit Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors (TAPS) which will put this book directly in the hands of a newly suicided widow.

#suicidelosssurvivor #newbookalert #debutmemoir #purpose

Gold Star Advocacy, September 2024

Met with 10 offices promoting the passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act

Congressional Vote, November 2024

Final push before the vote - and passage of S. 141!

The Love Lives On Act of 2025

For 2025, I will be working to advocate for the passage of this bill - which will allow surviving military spouses to remarry and keep the benefits that their loved one died for.