Press Releases
October 8, 2025
SRAI honors Sedwick for her decades of impact and leadership in the research community
McLean, VA – October 8, 2025 – Attain Partners, a leading management and technology consulting firm, announced today that Dr. Susan Wyatt Sedwick has been named the recipient of the 2025 Herbert B. Chermside Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Contribution to Research Administration. Presented by the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI), this prestigious honor recognizes Sedwick’s exemplary and sustained contributions to the advancement of research administration as a profession.
Dr. Susan Wyatt Sedwick of Attain Partners Receives the 2025 Herbert B. Chermside Lifetime Achievement Award in Research Administration
Sedwick will be presented with the award on Monday, October 20, during the Awards Ceremony Luncheon at the 2025 SRAI Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.
Throughout her distinguished career, Sedwick has been a visionary and transformative force in the research administration community. Her leadership has spanned program development, policy advocacy, mentorship, and institutional transformation. The SRAI Awards Committee noted her as “highly deserving” of this prestigious recognition.
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized for lifetime achievement in research administration, an acknowledgment that reflects not only my efforts but also the support, empowerment, and collaboration of many others,” said Sedwick. “Herb Chermside’s dedication to professional development and his generous sharing of knowledge have long inspired me and so many in our field. This honor marks the pinnacle of my career, and I will always be grateful for the welcoming inclusivity and community that SRAI has extended to me and those I’ve encouraged to join.”
Among her many achievements, Sedwick has served on national and international bodies that shape research administration standards, compliance, and best practices; authored landmark guidance documents, white papers, and policy frameworks used broadly in the field; led institutional initiatives that modernized research administration infrastructure, streamlined compliance, and improved collaboration between academic, administrative, and sponsored programs units; and acted as a trusted advisor to colleges, universities, and funding agencies, helping to navigate changing regulatory landscapes and promote responsible, effective research enterprise operations.
“Susie Sedwick is the very model of the kind of leader our research community needs,” said Mark Davis, Managing Partner and Research Practice Lead at Attain Partners. “She blends deep expertise, integrity, and a genuine commitment to lifting up others. This award is a fitting tribute to her decades of service, and we are thrilled for her exemplary work to receive this recognition.”
Sedwick is widely respected for her ability to combine deep technical knowledge with a collaborative, human-centered approach to problem solving. A passionate advocate for professional development, Sedwick has mentored generations of research administrators and championed knowledge sharing across the field.
Attain Partners is honored to celebrate Sedwick’s distinguished honor and looks forward to her continued leadership in the research administration field.
About Attain Partners
Based in McLean, Va., Attain Partners is a leading management and technology consulting firm delivering services and solutions to advance client missions across the education, nonprofit, healthcare, and state and local government landscapes. For more information, please visit attainpartners.com.
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Media Contact:
Ellen Walsh, Attain Partners
703.857.2178 | [email protected]
