Born: 29 October 1935, United States
Died: 20 November 2005
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Ellen Swepson
The following is republished with permission from the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail.
Ellen Swepson Jackson (1935-2005) was the founding director of the Freedom House Institute of Schools and Education and the visionary behind Operation Exodus, a program that bussed inner-city students to less crowded schools. Jackson was educated at Boston State Teacher’s College and Harvard Graduate School of Education. She served as a dean and director of affirmative action at Northeastern University until her retirement in 1998. An activist at both local and national levels, Jackson received numerous awards for her lifelong dedication to civil rights. The Ellen Jackson Day Care Center was named in her honor.