Janet E. Jackson spent 14 years as president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio, one of the largest United Way organizations in the country. She was the first woman and the first Black person to lead the organization.

Prior to coming to United Way, Jackson served six years as the Columbus, Ohio City Attorney, a first for a woman in Columbus. Her election to that office was also a first for a Black person in Columbus. As Columbus City Attorney, she served as the City’s chief legal advisor.

Before her appointment as City Attorney, Jackson served nearly ten years as a Franklin County Municipal Court judge, making her the first Black female judge in Franklin County history. She holds a B.A. degree from Wittenberg University and a J.D. degree from The National Law Center at George Washington University.

Her honors and awards include: Allies of Equality from Equality Ohio, Woman of Achievement Award from the YWCA of Columbus, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award from the Columbus Education Association and Woman of the Year by the Niagara Foundation. She was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame in 2001, and the City of Columbus Hall of Fame in 2017. She also received the 2015 Mortar Board Alumni Achievement Award. Jackson was named Outstanding Head of Diversity in the Columbus Business First Diversity in Business Awards and she won the Champions of Diversity Legend Award.

In April 2021, Jackson was selected by City of Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther to chair Columbus’ first Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB), which provides civilian oversite of police for the first time in the city’s history. She served two years as chair of CPRB, serving through April 30, 2023.

She is a member of the board of Installed Building Products (a publicly traded company) and chair of its compensation committee. She also serves on the board of Wittenberg University. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum, IWF Ohio and Women Corporate Directors. She also served as chairperson for the Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission from March of 2018 until January of 2020.