Megan Rodgers found a home at the William H. Bowen School of Law.

“Bowen is like a family,” said Rodgers, originally from Alaska. “There’s a sense of community I feel here. We’re always there for each other. That’s really helpful when you’re so far from home.”

Before moving to “The Natural State,” Rodgers worked in Washington, D.C., for three years in government relations with James Lee Witt, a native Arkansan. Witt was the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President Bill Clinton.

Rodgers enjoyed her time in Arkansas when she visited the state for work.

“And I liked the fishing,” she said. “I’m really into fishing.”

Now, Rodgers is in her second year at the law school.

“Bowen is a good school when it comes down to it,” she said. “It offers a lot more than other schools do.”

Each member of the entering class is paired with a legal professional, such as a practicing attorney or judge, who will help introduce the student to the mentor’s legal profession. This unique mentor program, created in 2013, is offered by few schools.

Upon entering Bowen, students are asked a series of questions about what interests them.

The subjects that attracted Rodgers were aviation, fish and game, and maritime law. Since aviation was her top choice, she was paired with Clark Mason, an aviation attorney.

“Bowen did me a really great solid by going out of their way to find this aviation lawyer to help a random law student who has an interest in it,” Rodgers said.

One of the objectives of the mentor program is to help students develop relationship skills for professional success.

Students attend meetings with their mentors and set a plan for the duration of the semester.

Rodgers went to lunches with Mason and discussed what she was interested in and learned more about his profession. She also attended aviation commission meetings with him.

One of her favorite experiences was having a tour of the state police hangar where she was allowed to see the governor’s plane.

Through the program, Rodgers has learned that maintaining relationships can be beneficial.

“I really think that Clark is going to be someone that I have for the rest of my life to reach out to, and I learned how meaningful that can be, especially when you’re a new first-year student, who doesn’t know anything about law,” Rodgers said.