Joyce Dickerson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joyce Dickerson
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| Chair of the Richland County Council | |
| In office January 2017 – January 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Torrey Rush |
| Succeeded by | Derrek Pugh |
| Member of the Richland County Council | |
| In office January 2005 – January 2021 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | June 14, 1945 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Midlands Technical College Benedict College (BA) |
Joyce Dickerson, born on June 14, 1945, is an American politician from South Carolina. She served for many years on the Richland County Council. This council helps make important decisions for the county. She was even the Chair of the Council for a time. She served three terms before losing her re-election bid in 2020 to Derrek Pugh.
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Early Life and Education
Joyce Dickerson was born in Savannah, Georgia. In 1975, she moved to Columbia, South Carolina. This was after her husband finished his service in the United States Air Force.
After moving, she went to college. She studied at Benedict College and earned a degree in Business Administration. She also attended Midlands Technical College. There, she earned a degree in Psychology. Before becoming a politician, she worked as a compliance auditor. She retired from this job in 2006.
Political Career and Public Service
Joyce Dickerson has been involved in politics since the 1980s. She is a member of the Democratic Party. In 1996, she ran for a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives but was not elected.
In 2004, she was elected to the Richland County Council. This council helps manage local government services. She also held leadership roles in several national groups. She served as State and Regional Director for the National Federation of Women Legislators (NFWL). In 2011, she became the Chair of NFWL.
Dickerson also worked on important committees. She was part of the National Order for Women Legislators (NOWL) Telecommunication and Technology Task Force. She represented Richland County on the National Multi Modal Transportation Steering Committee. For two years, she served on the Federal Communications Commission's Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. This committee advises on communication rules. She was also a past President of the Women of the National Association of Counties. Additionally, she was a former Chairwoman of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority.
In 2016, Joyce Dickerson supported Hillary Clinton for President. She was one of many African American women across the United States who endorsed Clinton.
Campaign for U.S. Senate
In October 2013, Joyce Dickerson announced she would run for the U.S. Senate. She challenged the Republican senator, Tim Scott, in the November 2014 election. Dickerson won her party's primary election with 67% of the votes. However, she lost the general election to Senator Scott.
See Also
- Black women in American politics
- List of African-American United States Senate candidates
