Margarita Artavia, clinical associate professor in the USC School of Social Work, was honored March 7 at the fifth annual Remarkable Women Awards for outstanding contributions to her field and to the university.

Sponsored by the Office of Campus Activities and the Women's Student Assembly, the awards honored 12 USC women for their commitment to students and women's issues, community involvement, leadership accomplishments and professional honors.

"Margarita's recognition by our students as a 'remarkable woman' is well-deserved," said Dean Marilyn Flynn. "These special relationships between students and our faculty are one of the most important factors in keeping our school great."

Artavia, whose students, fellow field instructors and social work faculty submitted letters on her behalf, has been a member of the field education faculty since 1996, where she places students into social agencies and acts as a liaison for them. She serves on the Work & Life concentration committee, which helps society's workforce, especially women, immigrants and workers of diverse backgrounds meet the challenges of balancing the demands of work, family and life. She also coordinates the foundation year immersion program, which is a specialized learning experience offered during orientation to engage students in the culture of a Southern California neighborhood different from their own.

Prior to teaching, Artavia coordinated the Inter-Professional Initiative in South Central Los Angeles, an interdisciplinary project composed of graduate and doctoral students from multiple USC schools volunteering to serve at-risk families in urban centers. She has also been a social worker at the Eisner Pediatric and Family Medical Center, where she chaired the Domestic Violence Project; Venice Family Clinic; Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic and the Neighborhood Youth Association in Mar Vista, Calif.

Artavia is also the recipient of the Outstanding Community Service to Children and Their Families Award from the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the USC School of Social Work Master Field Instructor Excellence Award and a 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award from her students.