When Randolph-Macon College student Carman Swafford ’21 was thinking about where to do a January Term (J-term) internship, she knew exactly who to contact. Swafford, a Spanish and psychology major, consulted her advisor, Spanish Professor Maria Bordera-Amerigo, and she contacted the Fruitland Police Department in Fruitland, Maryland.

Fruitland is near Swafford’s hometown of Salisbury, Maryland, and she thought that the department could benefit from having a Spanish-language intern help build connections with the Hispanic community. Swafford was thrilled to learn that she’d secured the internship: She has taken Spanish lessons for 11 years, and she was eager to help others.

Faculty Mentorship
Putting her language skills to good use during her internship, Swafford translated legal documents, assisted with on-site communication and translation, and helped police officers learn phrases they can use during interactions with Spanish speakers. Bordera-Amerigo’s mentorship was essential to Swafford’s success as a student-intern. 

“Professor Bordera-Amerigo taught me a lot about how to translate legal documents—including which vocabulary terms to use in legal contexts,” says Mayberry. “She was extremely encouraging during my internship. Although she was traveling during J-term, she took the time to mentor to me and answer my questions via email.”

Bordera-Amerigo says, “I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of her translations, given the complex nature of legal documents. Carmen did most of the work, but I was there to guide her and give advice about the process of translating documents and what materials to consult for extra help—such as dictionaries and legal glossaries. Both of us learned so much in this journey together: Carmen was part of what seems to be an amazing community, and I learned a lot about the demanding nature of a career in law enforcement.”  

Internship Expertise
Fruitland Police Department Lieutenant Dan Holland served as Swafford’s internship supervisor.

“Carmen helped our department by ensuring we are better equipped to communicate with the Spanish-speaking members of our community,” says Holland. “This will help us to better assist victims during investigations and protect our officers in certain situations. By completing this internship, Carmen learned how a police department operates, as well as the types of questions and investigative techniques that are used by our officers.”

Future Plans
The internship at the Fruitland Police Department was a valuable part of Swafford’s future goals: She plans to pursue an M.A. in forensic psychology and make a career in federal law enforcement.

“My internship allowed me to focus solely on Spanish legal terms, which I will use in my career,” she says. “Translating public documents—such as DNA Consent, Consent to Search, and Voluntary Consent—improved my vocabulary as I experienced the type of work and daily operations that are part of a legal department.”

Participating in an internship “allows you to create connections with professionals in the workforce,” says Swafford, a member of Delta Zeta sorority and Psi Chi, a psychology honor society.  “As a quiet person, I was nervous to step out of my comfort zone. My internship helped me gain confidence and recognize my strengths and weaknesses. An internship is like a trial run: It helps you prepare for a career.”