Louise Jackson has been named the CEO of the Women's Bureau on after serving as the interim CEO since Oct. 1, it was announced Thursday.

Jackson served on the Women's Bureau board from 1996 through 2009, acting as president from 2007 to 2009. The board contacted her in early August to see if she was interested in stepping into the role as CEO, Jackson says, and she suggested easing into the position through a stint as interim CEO.

Through her position, Jackson says, she hopes to develop new programming for the Women's Bureau, including making the group more visible to women in the community and grow existing programs, such as the REACT rape awareness program. She also hopes to increase membership.

"For $35, I think every woman in Fort Wayne should be proud to say she's a member of the Women's Bureau," Jackson says.

Jackson has a bachelor's degree in business administration from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, located near Terre Haute, a master's of business administration from the University of Saint Francis and a certificate of fundraising management from the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy.

Before working for the Women's Bureau, Jackson served as Manchester College's major gifts officer and director of women's philanthropy.