Sam Johnson is the Special Assistant to Mayor Steve Benjamin in Columbia, South Carolina, facilitating the Mayor’s priorities, projects and initiatives. He has coordinated transparency initiatives like the #AskMayorB Town Hall and launched the “Tweet My Jobs” program. He has also been involved with the Famously Hot New Year celebration and the Mayor’s Fellows, a collegiate internship program for the Mayor’s Office. Prior to entering this post, he worked for former Representative Anton Gunn in the South Carolina House of Representatives
Johnson serves on the board for Midlands Technical College’s Human Services division, Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR), South Carolina Afterschool Alliance, the Tapp’s Arts Center and The Nickelodeon Theatre. He is also co-founder of the Talented Tenth which strives to develop socially conscious African American young professionals who will set, achieve and surpass their goals to reach their full potential.
Johnson is a lifelong resident of Columbia, graduating from Spring Valley High School before attending the University of South Carolina. He holds dual degrees in
English and Political Science.