Stephen K. Benjamin

Steve Benjamin
Official portrait, 2023
Senior Advisor to the President for Public Engagement
In office
April 1, 2023 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byKeisha Lance Bottoms
Succeeded byJim Goyer (as Director of the Office of Public Liaison)
Director of the Office of Public Engagement
In office
April 1, 2023 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Principal DeputyJamie Citron
Preceded byKeisha Lance Bottoms
Succeeded byJim Goyer
70th Mayor of Columbia
In office
July 1, 2010 – January 4, 2022
Preceded byBob Coble
Succeeded byDaniel Rickenmann
76th President of the United States Conference of Mayors
In office
May 7, 2018 – July 1, 2019
Preceded byMitch Landrieu
Succeeded byBryan Barnett
Director of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services
In office
January 13, 1999 – January 15, 2003
GovernorJim Hodges
Preceded byStephen Bernie
Succeeded byJoan Meacham
Personal details
BornStephen Keith Benjamin
(1969-12-01) December 1, 1969
PartyDemocratic
SpouseDeAndrea Gist
EducationUniversity of South Carolina (BA, JD)

Stephen Keith Benjamin (born December 1, 1969) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement under President Joe Biden from April 1, 2023 to January 20, 2025. Benjamin previously as Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina from July 1, 2010 to January 4, 2022 becoming the city’s first African American mayor. He has also held leadership roles in several national organizations, including serving as President of both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the African American Mayors Association.