The Department of English offers a robust array of undergraduate internships. These internships include on- and off-campus positions in which students apply their college-level English classroom skills to practical work environments. They enhance student employment opportunities after graduation and expose our students to a wide range of careers for which English studies prepare them.
English internships fall into three broad categories: publishing, legal, and non-profit. Our publishing internships offer students a broad range of experiences, including academic publishing, magazine and journal publishing, radio writing and production, and television writing and production. Our legal internships include opportunities with local district and circuit court judges, public defenders offices, and private law firms with a variety of specializations. Our nonprofit opportunities are often perfect ways to blend and bridge double majors or majors and minors. These partnerships allow for application of English skills in areas such as grant research and writing, public relations and marketing, archival research, educational and literacy initiatives, and creative writing opportunities. Examples of organizations with which we are currently partnered include Alabama Heritage, the University of Alabama Press, Black Warrior Review, Historic Tuscaloosa, New Heights Community Resource Center, Tuscaloosa Reads, Rosen Harwood Attorneys, Jefferson County Public Defender’s Office, WVUA, Almond Attorneys, LLC, plus many more.
Requirements
During the semester in which the internship will be held, students should be second-semester junior or senior English majors with a 3.00 grade point average. Interns should work approximately 10 hours a week and must submit both a midterm and an end-of term critical reflection assignment. Within the English Department, EN 430: English Internship, may be applied as three credit hours toward the major or toward the Digital, Public, and Professional Writing minor. The course may be repeated for general credit hours. Internships may also be completed for course credit by students in other majors and minors.
Application Process
All students wishing to seek an internship position with one of the department’s partners must schedule a brief preliminary interview with the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies before receiving any referrals. Students who successfully secure an internship must then complete the department’s internship proposal form and submit it for approval, in order to enroll in EN 430: English Internship.
“Interning with Tuscaloosa Reads has had an incredibly positive impact on me individually and as a student studying Secondary English Language Arts. On my first day, I was able to assist with editing a video taken after a book reading we had completed. This video was put on the organization’s social media platforms. So much of this field of study is being able to convey meaning or a particular idea to others. It is a simple video of the children being read to and then doing an activity. Their smiles are so big. I felt this task allowed me to perform on the intent of the organization that kids flourish when they can interact with reading in any capacity. I am currently designated to put together literacy kits and create activities that correspond with the children’s books. A week ago, I was assembling these kits for a Spanish book. I was looking over the other materials and resources we provide in these baggies and realized that though I could not understand the language, I was so grateful that this organization truly does strive to create literacy equity for every community. As an English major and future teacher, I know how valuable it is for every hand to be able to reach for a book that they can understand and have some sort of response evoked in them. I am expected to begin a girl’s book club in the month of March for three different schools. I am so eager to facilitate discussions and encourage the girls to engage with the text in meaningful ways that they can relate to.”
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English Major Juliana Horiszny is interning this fall with the Tuscaloosa County Public Defender’s office, where she is taking an active role in building case files for clients.
She says, “As I transitioned from passive note-taking, to co-leading interviews, and now to running them independently, I’ve managed to make writing notes, asking questions, and guiding clients feel like second nature. Overall, I’ve definitely relied the most on my English background, both for the interviews and for the summary reports. Organizing a client’s story is like putting together the plot of a narrative, and my instinct for editing helps me quickly organize confused accounts into clear, easy-to-understand reports. In particular, I feel that my customer service and legal writing skills have improved the most, and I’m excited to continue to bridge the gap between human experience and formal legal documentation.” WTG, Juliana! #ReadWriteandRollTide
On Thursday, April 23, we celebrated our English Studies Interns from Aristotle University. BCAS Associate Dean Lisa Pawloski presented Elisavet Voskou and Aikaterini Papageourgiu with certificates of completion for their work with Alabama Heritage/Historic Tuscaloosa and University of Alabama Press, respectively. Next up: Six students from the University of Alabama will be earning EN 430: English Internship credit for their work at Aristotle University during May Interim.
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Makenzie Montgomery spent Spring 2026 interning with KinderVision. Nancy Sebastian, KinderVision’s executive director, sent glowing words about Mackenzie’s work and her initiative!
The Department of English is delighted to host students from Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece, during the month of April as part of the BCAS Alabama Greece Initiative. Elisabet Voskou is completing a joint internship with Alabama Heritage magazine and Historic Tuscaloosa. She will be researching information on the Old Tavern in preparation for its 200th birthday next year, and compiling that research into digital publications to help tell the story of the structure. Aikaterini Papageorgiou is completing an internship at University of Alabama Press under the direction of Project Editor Jenn Manley. She will be working with manuscript proofs and receiving a strong introduction to the field of academic publishing. These pictures are from their tours of the Jemison Mansion and the Old Tavern, led by Historic Tuscaloosa Executive Director Will Hawkins. #ReadWriteandRollTide
Be sure to check out Kiley Stevens’s Old Cahawba blog post for Alabama Heritage: https://www.alabamaheritage.com/blog/2026/03/02/old-cahawba-now-ghost-town/
Kiley Stevens is a junior pursuing a Bachelor’s in English with a minor in Creative Writing. She is enrolled in EN 430: English Internship this semester, and is working with Alabama Heritage. Kiley was raised in Fairview, Alabama (Cullman County). She loves all things in the world of writing and is actively looking to obtain a career within the publishing industry.
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Intern Coordinator Dr. Serena Blount was invited by in February to help honor Dr. Samory Pruitt, Vice President for Community Affairs, on behalf of the Neighborhood Partnership Committee. The Division of Community Affairs has been invaluable to the development of the Department of English’s robust internship program.
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English Minor Hunter Pickett (pictured, right) spent Fall 25 and Spring 26 interning with Boys and Girls Clubs of West Alabama. She writes, “One of my favorite experiences so far was attending the Youth of the Year event at Tuscaloosa River Market. Getting to watch these students share their stories, goals, and love for BGCWA was very inspiring. It showed me just how much effort and attention to detail goes into planning an event like that. The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama really invests in empowering young people to be the best version of themselves, and being present to see it allowed me to understand the mission behind all the daily work we do, and that it contributes to something much bigger. This internship has helped me grow professionally by showing me just how important adaptability, teamwork, and mentorship truly are. The relationships I have been able to build with the staff as well as the kids has made this experience even more memorable and rewarding. Being at the midpoint of this semester, and also doing this last semester, I am confident in my ability to understand and work for a non-profit in the future. I am excited to continue to develop my skills throughout the rest of this year, taking on more responsibility, and continuing to contribute in any way I can to the youth we serve in Tuscaloosa.”
One of our recently formed partnerships, with Black Warrior Riverkeeper, resulted in a wonderful experience for Student Lilly Roehrig. As Lilly supported BWR in its work, she found support for hers from the organization (see the BWR social media post below). According to BRW, last semester, Lilly significantly helped propel the organization to a new record for the number of polluters’ files reviewed in year.
English Major Marah Inman is interning during Spring 2026 with the Shelby Institute for Public Policy. She was also selected to be one of the University of Alabama System’s Capitol Scholars this summer. We are so proud! Read all about the Capitol Scholars program here: https://news.ua.edu/2025/12/10-ua-students-named-capitol-scholars-for-2026/
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English Major Ben Iboshi spent Fall 25 interning with Therapeutic Riding of Tuscaloosa (TROT). There, he was able to work highly independently on preliminary public relations and marketing content that will be used for fundraising in the spring. Ben developed new skills in video filming and editing and developed an appreciation for all of the work that goes into operating non-profit agencies. Here is one of the videos her produced for TROT:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QMnkNVtkMbnIwyz2Q6p2SpHyLYruqGVu/view?usp=sharing
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DPPW Minor Mallory Cook spent Fall 25 interning with Alabama Public Radio. In this position, Mallory was able to develop a portfolio of work. Here are a couple of the peices she work on at APR:
https://www.apr.org/news/2025-10-16/the-apparent-haves-and-have-nots-of-arts-education-in-alabama
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Pre-law students Emily Adcock and Isabella DeCaro spent Fall 25 working in internships at Rosen Harwood Attorneys. Emily reflects on some high points of her experience there: “I was surprised that most of my tasks centered around the estate planning process; as a local firm with fifteen practice areas, I was sincerely hoping to be briefly exposed areas like intellectual property and litigation. However, through filing emails, I was indirectly introduced to a variety of client matters, which I found extremely interesting. Other highlights include my collegial relationship with my fellow intern and Katelyn, Ms. Scheeff’s legal assistant. Further, people I coincidentally met deeply impacted my experience. One Rosen Harwood attorney spoke to my AS 299 (pre-law) class and I later got to chat to him in his office about balancing a career in law with family obligations. Additionally, Tayler Hansen, a younger attorney at the firm, went out of his way to let me sit in on client meetings. Seeing how he made small talk and patiently explained legal documents to clients in everyday language helped me picture how attorney-client relationships actually work. The final high point in my internship was Ms. Scheeff asking me to research AI’s impact on the law and write about my findings. This request correlated very well with my past experience taking an online certification class about AI and the Law at WashU this summer, a present GBA 571 project about AI integration at another firm, and ultimately, my future aspirations in the field.”
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Brianna Hobson, English Major and Creative Writing Minor, spent Fall 25 working in an internship with Alabama Heritage. Brianna reflects: “My internship this semester was extremely fulfilling in many ways. My responsibilities included fact checking articles for accuracy, reading through proofs and galleys for consistency, errors, and creating three blog posts on any subject that related to the state of Alabama. Fact checking was time consuming, but I enjoyed it because it furthered my own skill of editing for other classes as well as my own creative works. There was only one article I struggled to find any information to confirm because most of the content was very sparse online, and what I could find happened to be in another language. That was a low point for me since I am a perfectionist, but Susan [Reynolds] reassured me and I moved on to other tasks once I did what I could. Galleys and proofs were the moments where I truly felt as though I was part of the publishing side of the magazine and it was fantastic. The words on the page transformed visually which gave me a lot to consider for my own creative writing styles in how I may want to present them in the future. The best part of my internship overall were the blog posts I wrote. Writing about Alabama was difficult for me personally since I have very little knowledge of my own state but in doing so, I was able to dive into topics that intrigued me and learn more about them through the sources that Alabama Heritage uses for authentication of facts and references.” Read two of Brianna’s blog posts here:
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English Major and Creative Writing Minor Soph Sommers spent Fall semester as an intern with Tuscaloosa Reads. Executive Director Dr. Whitney Javine reflected on Soph’s time with the agency:
“Sophia has truly been a pleasure to work with this semester. She has such a sweet, positive spirit and is always willing to lend a helping hand. During her internship with Tuscaloosa Reads, she contributed to the creation of literacy resources for families, as well as the assembly and packaging of literacy kits. She accompanied our team in restocking community bookshelves, delivering literacy kits to community organizations and healthcare centers, and shadowing our book club development and facilitation. Additionally, Sophia played a major role in preparing book club tubs for our after-school programs. She demonstrates a genuine passion for literacy and shows great promise as a future English teacher.” Way to go, Soph!
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English Major Kalyn King worked throughout the Fall 25 semester as a Marketing Intern at the University of Alabama Press. Kalyn led the launch of the UA Press TikTok page and handled market research, content planning, filming, and editing for five videos. She also contributed to the UA Press YouTube channel by assisting with an illustrator interview and developing her own thoughtful questions. Kalyn quickly learned and applied new skills in Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator. Here are some examples of Kalyn’s work at UA Press:
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English Minor/Advertising Major Hunter Pickett spent Fall 2025 interning with Boys and Girls Clubs of West Alabama. In her role, Hunter worked closely with BGC’s Communications Director, Ashley Cornelius, composing press releases and designing posters and flyers for fundraising initiatives undertaken. Here is a sampling of her work for the Youth of the Year event:
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Two of our Fall 25 Interns were featured in this Barefield College of Arts and Sciences article on the Digital, Public, and Professional Writing minor. Aubrei Grisaffe is interning with the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership, and Isabella DeCaro is interning with Rosen Harwood Attorneys. https://barefield.ua.edu/2025/10/24/writing-minor-offers-interdisciplinary-writing-courses/
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Get to know our three English interns, Addison Phelps, Ella Seaton, and Brianna Hobson, who are working with Alabama Heritage during Fall 25 :
https://www.alabamaheritage.com/blog/2025/09/03/get-to-know-alabama-heritages-new-editorial-assistants/ and Read Addison Phelps’s blog post, “The Legacy of Mobile’s ‘Can’t Get Away Club'” here: https://www.alabamaheritage.com/blog/2025/10/08/the-legacy-of-mobiles-cant-get-away-club/
English Major Soph Summers is interning with Tuscaloosa Reads throughout Fall 2025. She is working with Executive Director Whitney Javine to stamp and label books that will be donated to places around Tuscaloosa and Northport, such as tutoring centers, schools, and stores. These books are made available to help promote literacy rates in young children as they advance through life. Additionally, Soph has made literacy kits with books, coloring pages and references for parents and children. These kits are donated through the Tuscaloosa Reads program!
English student Kaylee Musgrove is interning this semester (Fall 25) with the Literacy Council of West Alabama. Part of her work is assisting with preparations for the Council’s annual Characters in the Garden fundraiser. Here, she is helping to create backdrops for the event.
Student Ethan Brown spent Spring 25 as an intern at Capitol Park Title/Almond Attorneys. His internship included participating in legal work at the office along with assisting State Representative Cynthia Almond with legislative work throughout the spring Alabama legislative session.
Ethan writes:
“I have researched, tracked, and occasionally helped draft the bills that Rep. Almond carried or considered this legislative session. Through this important work, I got to help with legislation that supports people with disabilities, victims of sexual extortion, teachers injured on the job, the AL National Guard, and others. I had the opportunity to visit the State House and Capitol in Montgomery and meet many of Rep. Almond’s colleagues. I have gained a great perspective on state politics and the needs of Alabama. On the law office and title company side, I have reviewed deeds, sat in on closings, reviewed mineral rights appraisals, and much more. The amount of work that goes into real estate closings and probating an estate has been the most surprising to me. The matters of probate court are not often thought of when learning about the legal profession but are very necessary. As I conclude my internship, I am planning a ceremony to honor a former state trooper who was killed with a memorial bridge. The true diversity of experience and of connections that I have made here has been transformative.”
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In April, a delegation from Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece, visited UA to explore internship opportunities for their students (UA is sending interns to AU this spring). English Internship Coordinator, Dr. Serena Blount, hosted Tatiani Rapatzikou, American Literature professor at AU. Dr. Rapatzikou had the opportunity to meet with several of our internship partners, including the University of Alabama Press, Alabama Heritage, Historic Tuscaloosa, and Schoolyard Roots. She also had lunch (above) with Department Chair Professor David Deutsch, incoming Undergraduate Studies Director, Professor Deborah Weiss, and three of our spring semester student interns, Tommy Camp (Boys and Girls Clubs of West Alabama), Ethan Brown (Almond Attorneys/Capitol Park Title), and Sara Hagar (Discovering Alabama). We look forward to sending English student interns to Thessaloniki in the future and to hosting Aristotle students here in Alabama for internship experiences!
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Pre-law student Kahyah Shabazz spent the Spring 25 semester as an intern in the offices of Tuscaloosa County District Court Judge Jim Gentry. Says Kahyah of her experiences there,
“Reflecting on the full range of my experiences, I’ve developed a more well-rounded
understanding of the legal system, my academic pursuits, and my evolving place within this
field. This internship solidified my belief that legal work is not only intellectually rigorous but
also deeply human. It highlighted the emotional weight that legal procedures can carry for
individuals, many of whom walk into court overwhelmed or confused, and showed me how
much a clear explanation, respectful tone, or translated document can mean in those moments.
I’ve also grown more aware of the systemic pressures within our judicial system including high
caseloads, overworked staff, and limited public understanding of legal processes. These
challenges highlighted the importance of civic responsibility and the value of clear,
compassionate communication skills that I now recognize as crucial to any future career in law.
Academically, I’ve gained confidence in my ability to interpret legal documents, work under
pressure, and navigate complex systems. Professionally, this experience has deepened my
commitment to justice and public service, and it has inspired me to pursue legal work that
prioritizes community education and equitable access. Overall, while the tasks themselves were
sometimes repetitive and minimal, the internship as a whole has enriched my vision for the kind
of legal professional I want to become, one who is knowledgeable, ethical, and always aware of
the human stories behind the law.”
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Alyssa Wallner interned with Schoolyard Roots throughout Spring 25. Schoolyard Roots facilitates hands-on learning gardens located at elementary school campuses of Tuscaloosa city and county schools. They deliver interdisciplinary, project-based education aligned with Alabama State Standards. As an intern, Alyssa led garden lessons with students, but she also helped strategize and manage Schoolyard Roots’s social media channels, and she worked together with Schoolyard Roots administrators on grant management.
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Spring 25 was a busy semester for our Discovering Alabama interns, who hosted a screening of the Alabama Quadricentennial episode of the show, and who polished their scripts, conducted interviews, worked in the field, and also got to work in the editing studios for the show. Below, Lucy Karem and Logan Busbee, who teamed up on an Elephants and Tigers script, are filming on location with Dr. Doug Phillips, host of the show and mentor to our interns.
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English Intern Tommy Camp spent the Spring 25 semester interning with Boys and Girls Clubs of West Alabama, working closely with Communications Director Ashley Cornelius. Some of Tommy’s assignments included composing press releases for the organization. Below are some samples of his work. Tommy says, “This has been beneficial to my career because it has opened doors that I have always wanted to open[…]This week, I was informed that I will be interning for the University Athletics department of communications next year and I believe that my experience with the Boys and Girls Clubs helped me achieve that. In my interview, I talked about how I have written press releases and used what I have learned outside of the classroom to be successful in this internship. I have relevant PR and communications experience that will help me when they ask for press releases or game recaps. Because of this internship you and the English Department have helped me get, I will now be able to begin following my passion of working in sports.” Congratulations, Tommy!
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English Intern Wrenley Brown spent the Spring 25 semester working at the University of Alabama Press with marketing Director Samantha Huff-Robertson. Wrenley’s responsibilities included working across a variety of marketing techniques–she created discount flyers like the one above, and worked on marketing slips, review lists, and assisting with social media graphics and videos. Some additional examples of her work can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfXGedrxyPU and here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCZIbADMgR0.
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English student Katrina Cook’s Spring 25 internship with Alabama Heritage utilized the research, writing, and editing skills she has learned in her college English courses. Katrina has published two blog posts for Alabama Heritage this semester, including this one about the founding of the Freedom Quilting Bee: https://www.alabamaheritage.com/blog/2025/03/26/the-founding-of-the-freedom-quilting-bee/ and this one about the Alabama Shakespeare Festival: https://www.alabamaheritage.com/blog/2025/04/04/the-alabama-shakespeare-festival-and-its-impactful-growth-of-southern-regional-theatre/
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English student Morgan Eaves also spent Spring 25 working with Alabama Heritage. Over the semester, Morgan worked on many articles and honed her research skills, often going above and beyond to find a fact or to confirm information that was difficult to find. Morgan enjoys writing about nature, and, according to Alabama Heritage Editor Susan Reynolds, “Our readers absolutely love her posts!” Morgan’s blog post on the infamous boll weevil can be read here: https://www.alabamaheritage.com/blog/2025/04/08/the-history-of-the-boll-weevil/ and her piece on the Marshall Space Flight Center is here: https://www.alabamaheritage.com/blog/2025/03/26/the-marshall-space-flight-center-and-nasas-civil-rights/ Her popular “snail blog” post is here: https://www.alabamaheritage.com/blog/2025/04/24/the-unofficial-snail-capital-of-america/
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In March 2025, Internship Coordinator Dr. Serena Blount gave a presentation at the Gulf-South Summit in Nashville, which was focused upon building the scaffolding for a resilient internship program that responds to students interests but that centers interpersonal engagement and creates paths that allow for serendipity and “active luck.”
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English student Rainey Hill’s Spring 25 internship at Tuscaloosa Reads involved developing literacy kits for elementary school children in the Tuscaloosa area. One of her responsibilities was to create worksheets that coordinate with books included in these kits, that are designed to encourage comprehension and reflection on their reading. Rainey says, “Working with Tuscaloosa Reads has been a pretty eye-opening experience. I’ve been diving into developing literacy kits and starting to build lesson plans for book clubs, and I’m really starting to see how much of an impact this organization has on the community. It’s more than just the work itself—it’s the people, the energy, and the way reading is helping create a sense of connection in the area.”
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The January edition of the College of Arts and Sciences Desktop News featured two of our Discovering Alabama interns: https://as.ua.edu/2025/01/08/english-students-contribute-to-emmy-award-winning-show/. Below, Discovering Alabama intern Sara Hagar works in the field filming interviews.
Our Discovering Alabama interns had the opportunity during Fall 24 to develop scripts for the documentary show. Working in teams, interns developed two scripts, one focusing on freshwater diversity in Alabama and the other focusing on rival mascots in the state, Elephants and Tigers, and the challenges for those animals outside of Alabama. Students got to participate in on-location filming, at the Cahaba River and at the annual Iron Bowl festivities.
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English Major Rainey Hill spent Fall of 2024 interning with the nonprofit organization KinderVision. Part of her work involved curriculum design for high school students: “One of the highlights of my role was designing lesson plans that were informative and engaging for students. I worked closely with my directors to ensure the content was age-appropriate and aligned with state standards. By focusing on real-life scenarios, I aimed to make these lessons relatable and practical, encouraging students to think critically about personal safety, healthy relationships, and the importance of peer support. Through these lesson plans, I sought to provide students with the knowledge and tools to recognize and address potential risks before they escalate into victimization.” Rainey also says, “I highly recommend my internship with KinderVision, The Greatest Save, to future students because it offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact in the community while gaining invaluable professional experience. During my time with the organization, I worked on projects that directly contributed to child safety and education while learning from a team of dedicated professionals. The internship provided hands-on experience in development, outreach, and advocacy, which helped me build my skill set and passion for making a difference. The supportive and collaborative environment allowed me to grow personally and professionally, and I am confident that future interns will leave with the same sense of accomplishment and purpose. This is the perfect opportunity if you’re looking for an internship that combines meaningful work with real-world experience.” For a story with more detail about our students’ work, follow this link.
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During Fall of 2024, English Major Emily Adcock interned with Almond Attorneys/Capitol Park Title Company. She says, “This internship solidified my intention to attend law school and helped me envision the type of working relationships I want to have as a professional. The staff at Almond Attorneys/Capitol Park Title were always so incredibly caring towards me: giving me hugs everyday upon entry, asking about my weekend over coffee, and answering my questions with patience. While I admired the entire staff, Ms. Almond stood out as a role model. Not only did she successfully run this business, she also faithfully serves the community through her nonprofit work and her role as a state representative. Moreover, she prioritizes time for her family, friends, and passions (like hiking), showing me that engaged leadership, work-life balance, and success can coexist.”
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English students Ian Brunetz, Sara Hagar, Lucy Karem, and Logan Busbee are spent the Fall 2024 semester interning for the Emmy Award winning television program Discovering Alabama. Working with Dr. Doug Phillips, these students conducted research, produced program treatments, developed scripts, and created companion educational materials. They also gained exposure to fieldwork, audio, and video production throughout the semester. If their scripts and concepts make it into production, they will be credited by the series for their work as Assistant Producers and Writers. Ian and Sara worked on Freshwater Diversity in Alabama, while Logan and Lucy took on Tigers and Elephants, focusing on the popularity of state collegiate mascots while exploring the plights of those species in other parts of the world in terms of human activities.
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English Major Spencer Johnson applied for and was accepted into the Crimson Entrepreneur Academy for Summer 2024. This summer program is facilitated by Culverhouse College of Business’s Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute. Spencer used the experience to develop and refine his business, “Lotus Roots.” Spencer says, “Lotus Roots, in its most basic form, is a website platform that works to highlight Japanese organizations and events in each state in the United States, as well as to help people more easily learn about Japanese culture. I was able learn so much through CEA, as well as connect with many wonderful mentors who continue to help me in many ways even after the program has ended.” Spencer received two awards: ‘The Biggest Thinker,’ for having a business with the most expansive vision and potential for significant impact, and ‘The Focus Award,’ for his consistent dedication to advancing his business.
During summer 2024, Pre-Law English Student Azaria Lavender had the opportunity to intern at the Jefferson County Public Defender’s office. She had a wonderful experience while gaining meaningful exposure to legal careers, court protocols, and related work.
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Department of English Internships are now an award-winning program! Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Serena Blount, was awarded in April 2024 an Excellence in Community-Engaged Scholarship award in the category of Engaged Teaching and Learning, for her work in expanding, developing, and systematizing English Internship opportunities.
But wait–there’s more! English Intern Emily Adcock was awarded an Excellence in Community-Engaged Scholarship award in the category of Civic Engagement for her work with the Community Crossroads Civic Learning Lab.
And finally, one our program’s marvelous community partners, New Heights Community Resource Center was also awarded in the category of Civic Engagement! A great day for the Department of English internship program! Read, Write, and Roll Tide!
Below, pictures capture the work of English major Drew Aultman’s internship at Arts ‘n’ Autism. Drew lead a creative writing class throughout the Spring 2024 semester. The class was made up of a group of middle school students called the “Bigs”; they are 12- and 13-year-olds. Class activities ranged from creating character profiles, to sketching art, taking field trips downtown, and presenting their stories to fellow students. Also included in the group photo is English intern, Morgan Holder. Morgan’s duties at ArtsnAutism included grant research and writing, producing a new brochure, and other writing work associated with administrative, fundraising, and public outreach activities. Our interns find a wealth of experiences through our community partners! And on top of that, these highly motivated interns also collaborated with our department’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta to include a Philanthropy Feature, featuring Arts ‘n’ Autism in the Spring 2024 edition of Dewpoint Magazine: https://dewpointua.wordpress.com/philanthropy-feature/
English undergraduate intern Rainey Hill, with her director Tami Speth of KinderVision/TeenPSA heading in to Tuscaloosa County High School to meet with students. Rainey’s informal internship (not for course credit) during Spring of 2024 will be continued as a formal internship in Fall 2024.
New College student Karim Panjawani earned credit in Spring 2024 for an English internship. Karim spent Spring 2024 interning for Federal Judge Scott Coogler. He says, “My experience connecting with Judge Coogler’s chambers through the English Department has been incredibly smooth, and actually working within Judge Coogler’s chambers has been awesome! Given that most interns with judges are students currently in law school, I’m grateful that I’ve been able to get on board as an undergraduate student through the English internship program. As an intern, I’ve been able to work on a variety of cases, participate in discovery conferences, and observe actual courtroom procedures. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone who thinks they want to go to law school or do anything law adjacent!”
The Crossroads Civic Learning Lab has provided important experiential learning opportunities for our English undergraduate Students. Spring 2024 Intern Lauren Herba reflects: “Dr. Harris asked me to create a presentation evaluating the growth opportunities for Crossroads on LinkedIn and YouTube. While this was originally intimidating, I have relied on my digital, public, and professional writing coursework to guide me in these tasks, and I have now excelled in them. So far, I have had opportunities to work on social media, be involved in dialogue groups, attend conferences, strategize for the future of Crossroads, and more. The value of concise writing, first introduced in my Technical Writing coursework, has become more apparent during this internship, and I have realized that writing needs to be quick and punchy to stand out on social media. Additionally, I have utilized the video editing skills that I learned during my Writing Across Media class.”
Pre-Law English major Ashley Nelson interned with Rosen Harwood attorneys in Spring of 2024. Her internship included overlooking wills and trusts, sitting in on phone calls with clients, and doing projects involving research:
“My skills in English have absolutely been helpful. For example, when I do a project that involves research, most of the time what I have gathered is eventually turned into a summary and it’s as though it’s a short essay. I think my writing skills have definitely helped me, but so have my reading comprehension skills. For the same example of the research projects, I typically have looked at 15-20 different sources before I have officially summarized all of what I have read.”
Below, English Major Marianna Willoughby worked to develop book club curricula and lead small student groups during her Spring 2024 internship with Tuscaloosa Reads. She also helped to develop literacy kits for children, which were distributed throughout the Tuscaloosa community.
