Sue Hack is the new director of Leadership Lawrence, a leadership and community-building program run by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber announced Hack’s hiring Tuesday, nearly seven months after she moved into the role on an interim, volunteer basis. Hack took over for Nancy Longhurst, who had been the only executive director the 23-year-old program had known.

Hack, a retired teacher, also works part time as a Lawrence city commissioner, and is a former Lawrence mayor. The 2000 graduate of Leadership Lawrence emerged as the top choice from among five finalists, culled from 50 applicants.

“Her experience, with her leadership and community involvement and teaching, all weighed in her favor,” said Earl Reineman, chairman of the chamber’s Leadership Lawrence Advisory Board.

Members of the 2006 Leadership Lawrence class are scheduled to graduate April 28, eight months after beginning their curriculum of study, discussions and community service. They will join 427 program alumni, many of whom continue to live and work in the area.

“I look forward to investing myself in the further development and enhancement of the program,” Hack said.

Future participants may have even more classmates. Members of the program’s advisory board are looking into boosting the size of classes, said Lavern Squier, the chamber’s president and chief executive officer.

Last year the chamber had planned to pursue expanding the program into two classes per year, but the plan was dropped when Longhurst resigned. That plan no longer is under consideration, Squier said.