currently interns with the Brevard County Public Defender's Office
BREVARD COUNTY • , FLORIDA – In this Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, we are featuring Florida Tech softball player, Madison McAllister. This summer, the Melbourne, native is gaining meaningful experience at an internship in her desired field. We caught up with McAllister to learn more about the incredible opportunity.
What company are you interning for this summer? What was your title and role with the company?
The company that I am currently interning with is the Brevard County Public Defender’s Office located in Viera, my current position within this company is a mitigation intern!
This position involves investigative work for the purpose of developing mental health, medical and social history information necessary to help public defenders and their clients.
■ What drew you to this internship?
Truthfully, I was kind of just thrown into this internship, one of my previous classes lined me up with this job, and I couldn’t be happier with it. I truly had no idea that I would be working on cases this closely and that my knowledge would be wanted and accepted even though I am an intern.
■ What are some exciting tasks that you have been able to be a part of?
I have spoken with inmates on the phone and learned more about them and their cases. I got to speak with an individual and collaborate with them about finding some inpatient/outpatient facilities that treat mental health and substance abuse. I have gotten the opportunity to go to court to see the research I have done or the resources I provided be used in court.
I have also gotten the opportunity to speak in court to elaborate more on what type of treatment centers I was able to find for my previous client. Also, I’ve been able to sit in on meetings with specialists in mitigation and a doctor who specializes in Autism Disorders.
In these meetings, I’ve been able to voice my opinion and knowledge, I get to see the documents on these individuals from when they were in school or when they were admitted into any sort of mental health hospital or any institution that specializes in substance abuse, I then have to pick apart and make timelines/outlines on things that I think could be used to help my client’s case.
■ How is your internship preparing you for a career you would like to do after graduation?
I would love to work within the FBI one day, and being able to work so closely with the public defenders and pick the brains of the experts and specialists that come in will put me above others in my line of work.
Being able to say that I’ve done research and sat in on meetings with these fantastic people, I genuinely believe that will make me stand out.
■ What is your major at Florida Tech? Why did you choose this direction for your education and is this something you always wanted to pursue?
My major at Florida Tech is Forensic Psychology, I had been set on this general direction since I was a kid. I either wanted to be a police officer and then become a detective, but the more schooling I did the path of Forensic Psych kept reappearing.
■ How has being a collegiate athlete prepared you for the work you are currently doing? What traits did you take away from the playing field that are helping you throughout your internship?
Being a college athlete has helped me be a successful team player and be confident in what I do, knowing that my hard work in the classroom and knowing I have knowledge that is useful to others has been a big surprise to me and just has helped me become a more confident person.
Being on time and being a reliable team member has also been something that I learned from being a college athlete. Also, being a good listener and being coachable is something I’ve taken away from the softball team, which has helped me, especially here.
Being open to listening to someone’s opinion, even if it doesn’t line up with yours, is something not many people can do.
■ What skills did you acquire at the internship that you plan to bring back to help lead the softball team?
I think for me personally, being confident in my abilities on and off the field will be something that I can take back and just remember day to day.
■ What advice would you give another athlete/prospective athlete who is looking to pursue the path you’ve taken?
I would say go for it! If you have any desire to work in the criminal justice system or do anything within this field, do it. It has been the best thing I’ve ever done.
I did not realize how great Florida Tech’s Forensic Psychology program is, but I am so glad I’m here. I get to take a class with the FBI this coming semester, and I am ecstatic to take it. I’m getting such great experience and also getting a degree at one of the top schools.
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