Inside the Master of Science in Law
Inside the MSL Mentorship Program: Sarah Ellen Dean (MSL ’26) and Meech Carter (MSL ’21)
April 8, 2026
The Master of Science in Law (MSL) program at Northwestern Pritzker Law offers a range of resources designed to support students’ professional development; one of the most impactful is the MSL Mentorship Program. The Mentorship Program pairs current students with alumni working in the students’ fields of interest, thus creating opportunities for guidance, perspective, and connection across generations of MSL attendees. The relationships that result from the Mentorship Program help connect academic learning to real-world application, offering students a clearer understanding of how MSL studies prepare them for their careers.
For current MSL student Sarah Ellen Dean (MSL ’26) and alumna Meech Carter (MSL ’21), the Mentorship Program connection has proven especially meaningful. Read on to learn more about the partnership between these two MSL powerhouses.
Meet the Mentee: Sarah Ellen Dean
Sarah Ellen Dean entered the MSL program with a strong academic background, having earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During her undergraduate studies, she explored a wide range of environmental topics: from conservation to the impacts of textile manufacturing to energy systems. It was an internship in renewable energy policy that ultimately helped clarify her professional direction.
“I realized how much environmental work exists beyond the science,” she explains. “There’s law, policy, business—all these systems shape real-world outcomes.”
Eager to deepen her understanding of the legal and regulatory dimensions of the field, Sarah Ellen viewed the MSL as a natural next step. Today, she is building on her strong environmental studies and policy foundation with a focus in the MSL on regulatory strategy and clean energy policy. As she prepares for a career in the complex and rapidly evolving environmental policy sector, she knows it will be essential to build a network and learn from policy professionals.
When she entered the Mentorship Program, she was paired with Meech Carter. She immediately felt it was a perfect fit and would help her build important relationships in the policy field. “The Mentorship Program connected me directly with someone in the industry I want to go into. Every box was checked.”
Meet the Mentor: Meech Carter
Meech Carter’s career path reflects the kind of interdisciplinary journey that resonates with many MSL students. Following her bachelor’s degree in geology from UCLA, she completed the MSL program and then went on to earn a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, where she specialized in ecosystem science and conservation. Through her studies at UCLA, Northwestern, and Duke, Meech developed interdisciplinary knowledge that is critical to successful advocacy in environmental and energy policy.
She now serves as Director of Clean Energy Campaigns at the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, where she leads efforts spanning clean energy advocacy, regulatory analysis, and coalition-building. In her role, she helps shape campaign strategies, engages in legislative and regulatory processes, and supports efforts to expand access to clean energy—her work puts her right at the center of an evolving policy landscape.
Reflecting on her own experience in the MSL program, Meech recalls the uncertainty that can accompany early career exploration. That experience now informs her approach as a mentor.
“I firmly believe I have the power to make spaces better for the people that follow me,” she says. “Mentorship is about giving students access—to resources, to networks, and to people working in the field they want to enter.”
The Mentorship in Action
The relationship between Sarah Ellen and Meech illustrates the Mentorship Program’s impact in a practical and personal way. Their 1:1 conversations have covered a wide range of topics, from resume and cover letter feedback to mock interviews and job search strategies. Meech also provides something not quite as tangible but equally valuable: perspective.
“She gives me a glimpse into what a career in environmental policy actually looks like day to day,” Sarah Ellen says. “That’s something you can’t really learn from a textbook or the media.”
In addition to professional guidance, Meech helps Sarah Ellen navigate the complexities of the field by offering candid insights into industry trends, policy developments, and emerging challenges. Discussions about topics such as the impact of data centers on communities or the evolving renewable energy landscape help ground Sarah Ellen’s interests in real-world context.
For Meech, the relationship is equally meaningful. “I love talking to students about what they want to do and helping them think through how to get there,” she says. “And I love staying connected as they go on to make an impact.”
At its core, the MSL Mentorship Program is about connection: connecting students to alumni, to industries, and to opportunities they might not otherwise know about. It also reflects a broader culture within the MSL community in which alumni remain actively engaged in supporting the next generation of students.
For Sarah Ellen, that culture has already influenced how she envisions her future. “I would love to be a mentor someday,” she says. “Once I’ve gained more experience, I want to give back and help someone else the way Meech has helped me.”
For Meech, that cycle of support is exactly the goal. In a field where relationships often shape opportunities, the MSL Mentorship Program ensures that students are not navigating their paths alone, but with guidance, perspective, and a network of support.
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