Biden promotes Atlanta native to senior White House role

President Joe Biden has promoted an Atlanta native to special assistant and senior communications adviser to the Domestic Policy Council.

Rykia Dorsey Craig grew up in southwest Atlanta and attended Tri-Cities High School. While a student at Howard University, she interned for U.S. Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta.

Craig worked for Biden’s 2020 campaign and then joined the White House communications team. Later, she was promoted to senior regional communications director, a role that required her to foster relationships with local newsrooms across the country.

In her new position, Craig will help Domestic Policy Adviser Susan Rice and her team coordinate messaging on issues such as immigration, health care and education. Gene Sperling, a senior adviser to Biden, described Craig as a “star.”

“She is so exceptionally sharp, smart, strategic and hard working,” Sperling said in a statement. “She was a maestro at regional press who continually went the extra mile to get things done well. When we had an announcement she would demand the facts: then command the facts, then work it so hard with endless individual calls to produce regional and local coverage that at times amazed us.”

Craig will replace Patrick Rodenbush. She starts her new job with Rice on Monday.

“I’m very grateful for Patrick’s service to the President and the Domestic Policy Council,” Rice said in a statement. “He has been a tremendous colleague and absolutely critical in communicating the President’s domestic policy agenda. And I’m thrilled to welcome Rykia Dorsey to the team.”

The announcement about Craig comes as two other women with Atlanta ties leave Biden’s inner circle.

Sandy Springs native Kate Bedingfield’s last day as his communications director was March 1. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced two weeks ago that she is stepping down as the White House director of public engagement and senior adviser to Biden.