Talbot County, Maryland

08/26/2026

Category: Public Works Planning and Zoning

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Madison Smith, student at Salisbury University completed a two-month internship with Talbot County Planning and Zoning.

Madison Smith recently completed a two-month internship with the Talbot County Department of Planning and Zoning, gaining hands-on experience with the day-to-day work of local government planning.

Smith is pursuing a major in Urban and Regional Planning with a Land Use track and a minor in Creative Writing at Salisbury University. She connected with Talbot County through her program director, Dr. Amal Ali, who offered her the opportunity to participate in the internship program.

After accepting the opportunity, Smith interviewed with Talbot County and joined the Planning and Zoning team for the summer.

“My goal is to obtain my master’s degree in one of the many urban planning fields,” Smith explained. “However, it is difficult to choose a field to become an ‘expert’ in when I’ve had no real working experience. My motivation to obtain that experience led me here.”

The Talbot County Office of Communications spoke with Smith about her experience as her summer internship came to a close.

What tasks or projects have you handled during your internship?
I have handled projects ranging from permitting to staff reports. The most informative task I was given was creating a timeline of an 11-year project, the history of which was anything but simple.

Reading through staff reports, Board of Appeals meetings, Technical Advisory Committee meetings and other documentation gave me a clear understanding of how projects are managed in local government. It also showed me the importance of documenting everything to ensure those making decisions in the future have the context they need.

What new skills have you gained during your internship?
Some of the hard skills I will be able to add to my resume include data management, OpenGov and technical writing.

Beyond those individual skills, the internship gave me practical experience applying what I have learned in school to real planning projects and processes.

What are your long-term career goals within the field of Planning and Zoning?
My long-term goals will certainly change as I grow, but they currently center around helping existing communities become more equitable and environmentally sustainable.

No matter where I go, it is imperative that I remain kind and helpful to the communities I work for.

How has this internship helped prepare you for your future?
It has given me experience working with local government before even obtaining my bachelor’s degree. Experience like this will undoubtedly help build my resume as I apply to graduate school this fall.

“As an alum of Salisbury University, it is always a privilege to be able to provide students like Madi with professional experience through their educational journey,” said Bryce Yelton, Assistant Planning Officer for Planning and Zoning. “We wish Madi the best in her future endeavors and hope this experience inspires her as she discovers what she would like to do in the planning field post grad.”

To learn more about internship and job opportunities with Talbot County, contact Human Resources at 410-770-8012, or visit talbotcountymd.gov/hr.

intern planning and zoning apprenticeship salisbury university