Meet Our Leadership Team

When on site at Morgan Autism Center, Sun enjoys supporting teachers, staff and students with development of curriculum, instruction, administration, training and behavioral support. With a focus on a higher quality of life for students and clients, Sun continues to embrace the idea of lifelong education for all as she teaches the skills our students and clients need, in the most functional and practical form, with love and kindness.

Haley joined MAC in January 2020 working as an Instructional Aide in the school program. She is a California State University, Monterey Bay graduate. There she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology.

She enjoys working for Morgan Autism Center because the students and staff are so kind and welcoming. It’s an overall loving environment that she’s blessed to be a part of. In her free time, she loves to coach volleyball, visit the beach, and enjoys a good nap.

Nicole Ferguson is a BFA graduate of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She studied illustration, design, painting, and sculpture. During her last semester, Nicole visited an art studio for adults with special needs. At that point, her career completely changed.

Nicole met Morgan Autism Center’s Executive Director, Jennifer Sullivan. Immediately, Jennifer asked Nicole if she could teach students how to paint because they just lost their art therapist and would she be interested in a job in their Art Enrichment Program.

Ten years later, Nicole has had the privilege of teaching art to our clients and students. She is passionate about helping them cultivate their artistic skills as well as supporting their development through adaptive art curriculum. Nicole is also a part of the administration team, using her creative and administrative talents to further Morgan Autism Center’s mission. When she has free time, Nicole spends it with her family, outside gardening, and spoiling her Boston Terriers, Puka and Benny.

Isela has been at Morgan Autism Center for the past 7 years. She worked with the youngest students in room 2 as well as the older students in rooms 5 and 3. Isela graduated with a BA in Communicative Disorders from SFSU as she originally wanted to be a speech therapist. However, after working at the Morgan Center, Isela realized that her passion lies more in teaching and is currently working on finishing up her teaching credential. Isela has been happily married for more than 11 years and has the most beautiful baby. In her spare time  Isela likes to keep her hands and mind busy by running, singing, knitting, beading, and embroidery. 

Kristin grew up in Tucson Arizona and went to the University of Arizona for Elementary Education. She moved to San Jose in 2007 and has been working at the Morgan Autism Center ever since. Kristin received her masters in Special Education and enjoys cooking for her friends and family. She lives with her husband and 2 children.

Christopher Escher is the father of Jonathan Escher, a Morgan Autism Center student since 2005. Sweet-tempered and non-verbal, Jonathan has blossomed under the caring professionalism of Morgan Autism Center staff. Of note, he has made special strides in self-help skills.

Christopher decided to join Morgan Autism Center’s Board of Directors in 2013 in an effort to assist with the marketing and communications functions at the school. As secretary of the board, Christopher is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of board documentation and reporting. He is also head of the Communications Committee.

Professionally, Christopher worked at Apple for 12 years in various communications roles. He completed his career there in 1996 as vice president of corporate communications. He also served in executive marketing roles at various high-tech start-ups, completing his business career at Google as Creative Director from 2000 to 2006. He attended Stanford University, where he received a BA in 1980 and master’s degree in English literature in 1981.

Greg Finn has over 35 years of experience in the financial industry, including 14 years as a trust officer, focusing on Special Needs Trusts. He has extensive knowledge regarding estate planning, philanthropic gifts and investment management.

Greg has served as Director of Planned Giving for Mercy Foundation in Sacramento, and as a trust officer for both Union Bank of California, Bank of the West and now Fremont Bank. He is a member of the Estate Planning Councils of East Bay, Diablo Valley, Tri Valley, Peninsula, South Alameda and Santa Clara. In 2009, 2010 and 2011 Greg was a keynote speaker on “Investing for Court Supervised and Non-Supervised Trusts” at the annual PFAC (Professional Fiduciary Association of California) conference.

He has a BSC and MBA in Finance from Santa Clara University and an MS in Operations Research from University of Kent, Canterbury in England. He has three grown children and lives with his wife Karen in Sacramento.

As a result of his years of work experience with special needs trusts, Greg got to know Morgan Autism Center through its parents. The more he learned, the more he wanted to become involved and asked to join the board.

I have been a member of Morgan Autism Center’s Board of Directors since June 2002 and have served as chairman of the Finance Committee since November 2002. I was first introduced to Morgan Autism Center in 2001 while serving as legal counsel for a private foundation that provided financial support of the nonprofit organization’s relocation from Los Altos.

On my very first visit to Morgan Autism Center, I was sold. It was clear from my exposure to the kids, the faculty, the community, and the Morgan Center teachings, that Morgan Autism Center was an incredible place. Although I do not have a child in the program, it was readily evident to me how much the lives of the students were enriched by the individualized and compassionate teachings there.

At the time I first became associated with Morgan Autism Center, I was working as an attorney in private practice, having transitioned from a 5 year career in public accounting (CPA), then pursuing my educational studies in law (JD/LLM) and initially starting my legal career as an associate attorney for a mid-size law firm. Through the years that I have assisted Morgan Autism Center in navigating its growth, I also navigated a career in private law practice as well as an executive in health care. I am currently the CEO of Power Personnel, a healthcare staffing company that my wife, Cynthia Stewart, and I provide strategic leadership for and manage. Power Personnel is distinguished for its reputation for outstanding service delivery and was named as one of the top 100 fastest growing healthcare staffing companies by Staffing Industry Analyst.

As a member of Morgan Autism Center’s Finance Committee, I have had the pleasure of working with fellow committee members Barbara Wright (Board) and Doug Stevens (Business Manager) to assist the center in achieving its financial growth. We all believe the broad community impact that Morgan Autism Center has from its conferences, educational programs, and consulting services about autism to multiple school districts makes it one of the unsung heroes of Silicon Valley. We are all proud to support the charitable mission of the Morgan Autism Center.

Back in 2009 a fellow Rotarian approached Ted about Morgan Autism Center. At that time the organization was looking for additional board members, and Ted was looking to give back to the community. The special needs space quickly gots his attention as he has a daughter with special needs. She is not at Morgan Autism Center, but she receives help from many well intentioned and caring people, just like they deliver. After touring the program and doing his own due diligence, it was very clear that Morgan Autism Center was a leading organization in a growing space; that Ted thought he could help.

Ted’s position and purpose of being on the board is to help focus on the long-term viability of the organization. Ted uses his background at Merrill Lynch as a Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at the Santana Row branch to do so. He is proud to say that the diligent and persistent efforts by faculty in the past are evident in the service Morgan Autism Center provides now. With the forward thinking of fellow board members and the drive of the entire staff, Morgan Autism Center can continue to prosper and be on the leading edge of the continual changing face of Autism.

A special thanks goes out to all the people who give of their time and money, allowing Morgan Autism Center to be successful in what it does!

Debbie has a passion for supporting students, teaching staff and families. She is a retired educator with 34 years of experience as an elementary teacher, school Principal, Director of Special Education and Executive Director of Student Services and Special Education. She is skilled at curriculum and program development, leadership development, as well as special education laws and is a fierce advocate for students with special needs. She is a compassionate and caring leader.

Debbie was honored to join the MAC Board in March of 2022. Her experience and knowledge added value as the Executive team and the Board navigated the ever changing landscape of the pandemic. Having placed students in the Morgan Center, she knows first-hand the positive impact it has on students and their families and is proud to serve on the Board.

Debbie is a certified bareboat sailor and loves to be on the ocean or sailing on Lake Tahoe. She also loves to travel, ski, tend to her garden and chickens, and play with her dogs and her partner, Ted. She enjoys spending time with her family and close friends. Debbie is an active member of the Cupertino Rotary.