Sepmeyer Award – Excellence in Credentials Evaluation Research

The Sepmeyer Award is an IERF initiative that supports professional development and encourages excellence in the field of credential evaluation. This Award has inspired numerous research projects, conference presentations, newsletter articles, and self-published resources.

History

For many years, the late Inez Sepmeyer worked at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she focused on the admission and placement of international students and conducted research on international educational systems. Encouraged and aided by her late husband, Ludwig, she established the first U.S. private credentials evaluation service (IERF) in 1969. Her vision led to the publication of The Country Index, as well as many other significant publications in the credentials evaluation field. Contributions include publications with the following organizations: NAFSA: Association of International Educators and American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) – both of which have awarded her honorary and/or life memberships. The award is named in honor of Inez and Ludwig Sepmeyer because of their combined involvement in international education and their commitment to research and publications on world educational systems.

Eligibility

All individuals or teams are eligible, regardless of institutional affiliation, years of experience, citizenship, or country of residence. Current or new credential evaluation research projects or articles completed within the past year, as the award and grant are intended to honor achievements in research that address the needs, trends, and solutions of this ever-evolving field. The Sepmeyer Award aims to recognize and encourage smaller, thoughtful pieces of research and resource materials. For this reason, submissions of chapter books, e-books, websites, and databases are not eligible for consideration. Nominations will not be considered for previous recipients who received the Sepmeyer Award and Grant within the last three years.

Nomination Procedures

Nominations and self-nominations are both encouraged. Submissions should include the following:

• Full name and contact information for the nominator and/or nominee(s).
• Copy of the presentation proposal, newsletter article, or self-published resource. Please specify the date and platform of publication, if applicable. Supporting materials, such as video clips and speaker notes for conference presentations may also be submitted but are not required. The resource must be in English or a bilingual format that includes English.
• Authorization by the authors for IERF to post the article/presentation slides, if chosen.
• 150-word description of the submission piece and its significance in the field.

Submissions must be made via email to institutions@ierf.org by 12 noon (PDT) on March 15, 2026.

Criteria and Selection

Each nomination and submission will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Presentation and clarity of nomination package
• Presentation and clarity of resource
• Helpfulness of resource to the field
• Significance of contribution to the field

The selection will be made by a committee who are highly reputed professionals in credentials evaluation, international enrollment management, and international higher education. The decision of the committee, once announced, will be final.

Award

The recipient(s) of the award and grant will be formally notified by email no later than June 30, 2026. A single award of $1,000 USD and an honorary certificate will be distributed to the recipient(s). If there are multiple authors, the award will be shared among the recipients. The recipient(s) will be featured on IERF’s website and social media platforms and will be given priority consideration for co-presenting or joint publication opportunities.

Contact

For more information, please email institutions@ierf.org.

Sepmeyer Award 2026 Winner Announcement

The International Education Research Foundation (IERF) is pleased to announce Mandy Morrison and Samir Gabro as the 2026 recipients of the Sepmeyer Award for Excellence in Credentials Evaluation Research!

Their winning presentation, “Addressing the Challenges in Assessing Credentials from Algeria and Libya,” was delivered at the 2025 TAICEP Conference in Cavtat, Croatia.

This presentation provides a comparative analysis of the rapidly changing higher education systems in Algeria and Libya, two countries shaped by political instability, shifting linguistic policies, and evolving institutional frameworks. The research presents updated system overviews, accreditation structures, teacher‑training pathways, and document verification practices. Libya’s prolonged instability since 2011 has severely disrupted its accreditation processes, resulting in inconsistent institutional oversight, gaps in quality assurance, and challenges in confirming the legitimacy of issued credentials. Algeria, meanwhile, continues its transition away from French in higher education as part of a broader post‑colonial reform movement. This presentation equips credential evaluators with practical tools to identify fraudulent documents, verify institutional status, and navigate atypical documentation patterns arising from conflict‑affected regions. By integrating system charts, case studies, and fraud‑detection strategies, this work strengthens the international recognition community’s capacity to conduct accurate, fair evaluations of credentials from two under‑documented and rapidly evolving educational environments.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to all the nominees for their wonderful submissions and meaningful contributions to the field of international credential research.

Download the presentation now in the IERF Vault and gain valuable insights into the challenges in assessing credentials from Algeria and Libya.