Saberi is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. She interviewed Jackson 10 years ago when she was a student.
Saberi was convicted of spying in Iran and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Jackson plans to make a moral and humanitarian plea for her release.
"She should not be there as a kind of trophy or a pawn in the big stakes game being played between the U.S. and Iran and other nations in that region," Jackson said.
Saberi's father says she began a hunger strike on Tuesday and will continue until she is freed.
