Meet Michael
Educator
Business Owner
Authentic Nevadan
Michael MacDougall has called Henderson home since 1998, when his family moved to Nevada and he was just four years old. From an early age, he built deep roots in the community - attending Lake Mead Christian Academy for elementary and middle school, and later graduating from Advanced Technologies Academy in 2012, one of the nation’s top-ranked magnet schools specializing in technology.
While in high school, Michael discovered his passion for public service and civic engagement through journalism, working on the school newspaper and following local and national issues closely.
Michael went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. After graduation, he returned home to Nevada and joined the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas, where he helped share Nevada’s storied history with visitors from across the world. It was there that he realized how powerful education, storytelling, and curiosity can be.
Driven by that passion, Michael pursued graduate studies to become an educator. He earned a Master of Arts from the University of Iowa in 2021, followed by a second Master of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2023. Immediately afterward, he chose to return to Southern Nevada and began teaching high school social studies at the Adelson School. Every day, he works to inspire students with the values of critical thinking, civic engagement, and respect - empowering Nevada’s next generation to lead with empathy, curiosity, and confidence.
Michael believes in leading by example. As a young educator entering public service, he is committed to showing students - and all Nevadans - that the future belongs to those who participate, care, and take action. He is running for office to help young people see themselves in Nevada’s leadership, build trust in public institutions, and strengthen a sense of community pride and shared purpose. Michael believes that when people of all ages invest in their neighborhoods, their schools, and their democracy, Nevada becomes stronger, fairer, and better prepared for the future.
Outside the classroom and campaign trail, Michael enjoys attending Vegas Golden Knights hockey games, building LEGO sets, and spending time with his spouse, Diana, and their dog, Duncan. He loves exploring Nevada’s natural beauty - from picnicking at Lake Mead to hiking in Valley of Fire and taking in the red sandstone cliffs of Red Rock Canyon.
For Michael, Nevada is where he lives, where the community that shaped him lives, and where he now is shaping future lives.
