Annalisa Enrile, a clinical associate professor with the USC School of Social Work, has been selected as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World (Global100) by the Filipina Women’s Network for her work to improve the well-being of women in the Philippines and beyond.

The Global 100 Award honors women of Philippine ancestry who are influencing change and making change happen in their communities, industries, professions and in the world.  Recipients were recognized Oct. 25 at the 10th annual Filipina Leadership Summit sponsored by the Filipina Women’s Network.

In addition to being named to the Global100 list, Enrile also received the network’s Nicole award, which honors the body of work of Filipina women whose words, actions and activism inspire others to act and revolutionize society’s way of understanding traditional beliefs and customs.

“I am thrilled to be receiving this award because it doesn't just recognize my work, but also the work that social workers engage in – not just one-time projects, but building movements, creating change and making impact,” said Enrile, who was selected from a pool of nominees from 15 countries.

These awards recognize Enrile’s work in the Philippines, including leading the network’s Nicole campaign and building global immersion programs for USC Master of Social Work students.

“The [global immersion] model goes beyond study abroad and building bridges,” said Joel Jacinto, executive director of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, which formally nominated Enrile for the award. “The program is about crossing bridges and creating relationships and innovative solutions to international challenges.”

Enrile recently led a global immersion trip that included visits to the U.S. embassy in Manila and a session of the Senate of the Philippines, both firsts for the school. Students were able to see firsthand how the country empowers its women through the legislative process. The previous Philippines global immersion program focused specifically on human trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labor. The USC School of Social Work’s global immersions are designed to help MSW students develop a stronger understanding of other cultures and how social services are delivered in international settings.

As one of the few Filipina PhDs in social work, Enrile chose the field as a way to bring to light important social issues in the Filipino-American community and has also received an award for her service to Filipino-American veterans of World War II.

In developing the Philippines global immersion program, she wanted to give students a more tangible means to study and chronicle human rights violations.

“Our students are seeing how social work theory works in real life on a global scale," she said. "They also learn hands-on skills they can use here in the United States.”

Col. Shirley Raguindin, chair of the Global100 worldwide search and selection committee and chief diversity officer for the Air National Guard, described those selected for the Global100 as dynamic entrepreneurs and rising stars.

“They are powerful examples of women doing extraordinary work who will motivate our youth and future leaders,” Raguindin said.