ENLI Internship Stories
Students can gain valuable professional practice in internships to prepare for their After Mary Washington futures.
Each semester and in summer, the Department of English and Linguistics offers juniors and seniors the opportunity to design applied learning opportunities by working with organizations and working in close collaboration with sponsoring faculty.
Spring 2024 Internships
Spring 2024 Internships
Tabitha Robinson, on her internship with UMW’s Office of Advancement:
As a communications intern at UMW’s Office of Advancement, I got to work with the administrators who help make UMW a wonderful school. I wrote two articles, one about an alumna and one about a current UMW senior. Both articles highlighted UMW’s academic programs and our students’ success, and I really enjoyed interviewing both. One article is already published on the UMW homepage, and the other is on the way. My supervisor, who was also a UMW English major, encouraged me to learn to write professional copy, interview human subjects, and work with a writing team. I enjoyed getting hands-on experience in a role my English major prepared me for, and now I’m considering careers in the field.
- Scholarships Help Dancer, Biology Major Take Steps Toward CommencementUniversity of Mary Washington May 9, 2024
- UMW Historic Preservation Alumna Pivots to Career as a Pop Culture CriticUniversity of Mary Washington April 24, 2024
Garrett Hennessey, on his internship at the Jepson Alumni Center:
Throughout my semester of interning at the Jepson Alumni Center, I have been exposed to necessary experiences that will assist me with my future career path. For any student working towards an English degree, it is strongly encouraged that an internship is completed before graduation. Fortunately, I decided to search what alumni with English degrees chose for their internships. With that information I found the Jepson Alumni center, an excellent organization for which to intern. Looking back to a few months ago was my first main task within the internship. I was tasked with transcribing the President’s board meeting into a document. The Jepson Alumni Center is the campus facility that puts emphasis on student and alumni engagement. I found myself assisting in planning multiple events through the course of the semester. My passion for the university is at an all-time high after exposure to a fantastic organization within the university. With confidence I can say I achieved one of my goals towards figuring out a career path.
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Spring 2023 Internships
See stories from our English and Linguistics interns below.
Elsa Howell with Virginia Folklife Program
In my last semester at UMW, I had the pleasure of interning with the Virginia Folklife Program through UMW’s English department. It was an immersive and exciting experience for me as a writer, a poet, and a musician. I would encourage any students who enjoy historic literature, music, poetry, or folklore to apply for an internship with the Virginia Folklife Program.
The Folklife Program gave me professional writing experience by requiring me to write a creative article for their online publication. I felt prepared for this type of professional writing because of my skills learned studying literature and writing conventions at UMW. I had the joy of creative freedom and I got to tell my story from my own perspective.
In addition to a published article, I gained experience during my internship. I learned how to use new computer programs and how to conduct very specific research. I also got to listen to several interviews from the Folklife archive that inspired me to continue writing and creative music. My passion for music and writing have truly overlap perfectly with this internship!
For more information about Elsa’s internship, see:
- “Appalachian Ballad Singing” by Katy Clune, Virginia Folklife Program, part of Virginia Humanities
- “Folklife Apprenticeship Celebration at the Taubman Museum of Art“
- “Home Is the Sound of Rivers and Crooked Roads” by Elsa Howell; article includes a link to a performance by Elsa.
Brooke Hyatt: Hiring and Marketing Internship with Plato Learning Summer Camps
My English major background prepared me for my HR Hiring and Marketing Internship with Plato Learning Summer Camps in several ways. Part of my internship requirements were to analyze job postings and candidate resumes with a critical eye, ensuring that the best candidate for the position was selected. I was able to put my analytical and close reading skills to good use, reading between the lines and determining what skills and experiences were necessary for the role and how to identify potential red flags in candidates. I was fortunate enough to take English courses that taught me how to effectively analyze what lies beyond literature to prepare me for this role.
Additionally, my research skills allowed me to source candidates from a variety of different channels, including social media, job boards, and recruiting events, which I accumulated through the writing requirements of the Major. Another requirement of my internship was to have strong communication skills, skills that were honed in courses such as my Oscar Wilde seminar, and my “Literature of the Great War” class, where I was challenged to dig deep and facilitate sometimes uncomfortable conversations that ultimately led to deeper understanding of the material for all involved.
My interdisciplinary thinking skills have allowed me to approach problems and challenges from different angles, bringing a unique perspective to the team. By combining my English major skills with my HR and marketing internship experience, I was able to make a valuable contribution to the team and develop a strong foundation for my future career.