MICHAEL'S TIES TO CU:

Michael was born in Boulder in 1967. Growing up in Boulder he had early and frequent contact with the University of Colorado. In 1974 his father, former CU professor, Jim Carrigan, was elected to a state-wide seat on the Board of Regents.

Michael literally grew up on the CU campus. He worked and volunteered at a variety of summer programs at CU beginning in junior high school. Later, his involvement with the University continued as four of his five brothers and sisters attended and graduated from the school.

Michael attended CU himself in 1991 when he entered law school at CU. While at law school, Michael served as president of his class twice and president of the law school student body his third-year. For two years he also taught a course on Business Law to the students at the CU School of Business.

During his third year, Mike worked four jobs, but continued to excel, earning a spot on the Dean's List and graduating near the top of his class. He first joined the alumni association soon after graduation and both he and his wife, Sarah Dotson Carrigan, are life-time members of the CU Alumni Association.

MICHAEL'S RECORD OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE:

After graduating from college with honors in 1990, Michael declined a number of job opportunities to work as a full-time volunteer at an inner-city high school in the Bronx, New York. The school served a variety of lower and lower-middle class students, many of them immigrants, and focused on preparing the students for college. During that year, Michael saw how education, and specifically higher education, was essential in order for his students to secure their place in America's middle class.

More recently, Michael spent another full year of his life in volunteer service. Michael and his wife, Sarah, were married in October 2001. Four months later they left their jobs and moved to Bolivia, Latin America's poorest country. While there Michael and Sarah lived with three Catholic nuns at 12,500 feet in La Paz, Bolivia. They worked on a variety of educational and health projects, including adult education programs. Among many other projects, Michael and Sarah raised money to open a library in an isolated and desperately poor area not far from La Paz. Thanks to his time living and working in South America, Michael is proficient in Spanish.

Michael has volunteered for many local projects including homeless shelters, state boards and non-profits. Among other projects, Michael currently serves as the pro bono attorney for Easter Seals Colorado.

MICHAEL'S RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE:

In addition to his volunteer work, Michael has a long history of public service. Although he is now in private practice, most of his legal career has been working for the public. After passing the bar exam he clerked for a federal judge in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The next five years he spent as a prosecutor, most recently working for Bill Ritter as a Deputy District Attorney in Denver. He prosecuted cases at all levels, from DUIs, to child abuse, drug dealing and murder.

MICHAEL'S DEDICATION TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY:

Growing up in a political family, Michael has been involved in Democratic politics since he was a child. He started volunteering on campaigns as a teenager, and never stopped. He is a past President of the Denver Young Democrats and Colorado Young Democrats. While President of the CYDs, he pioneered many new chapters throughout the state, including the Western Slope, Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

He has served as Democratic Co-Captain in two different house districts in Denver, and is a former Co-Chair of the Rules Committee of the Colorado Democratic Party. He is a member of the 1996 Class of the Colorado Institute of Leadership Training which included Tony Young (Aide to Mayor John Hickenlooper), Scott Hutchings (Aide to Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriguez) and Danielle Radovich Piper (former Chief of Staff for the State Senate Democrats).

In 1998, the Colorado Democratic Party created a new award to recognize the efforts and dedication of young people, the "Rising Star Award." Michael was the first recipient of that prestigious award.